By Shannon Valentine 

As I walk into the Powerhouse Museum, on Gadigal Land, on a sticky humid October afternoon, I find myself equally excited and nervous for my first gig as part of a media team for a prestigious event.

Through the doors, past the giant train in the foyer, heading down some escalators, weaving through stalls selling various creators' pieces, through the throng of stunning models, and I found myself meeting other media professionals.

It was then it was solidified in my head. This is what I want to do, these are the events I want to attend! This is the excitement I was lucky enough to be a part of, and greatness I had the chance to witness, in my own creative journey.

Pacific Runway is Pacific excellence brought alive in a fashion show like no other.

Although the Runway Show event centres around fashion, it also creates space for other prominent creative voices, to champion their talent and bring together multiple small communities into one that creates a larger impact.

With a Thursday evening Runway show at Sydney's Powerhouse Museum, and PAC Gala the following evening at The Grounds of South Everleigh, this two-day celebration of Pacific Island and First Nations Australian creativity will not soon be forgotten.

There’s a sense of comfortability within the Pacific Runway community, so much so that as a newcomer to this event, to see its final show in all its glory, conversations and connections were easy.

Everyone was smiling, taking photos of each other, complimenting each other's outfits. I spoke to so many incredible people.

Diversity isn’t embedded naturally in the fashion world, but it is with Pacific Runway. Where mainstream fashion can become tokenistic in its diversity, Pacific Runway naturally reflects its communities, and champions talent for much more than aesthetic and quota.

The acceptance of The Pacific as a source commercially, not just culturally, is a missed opportunity for an industry focusing on getting ‘back on track’ after the pandemic.

Diversity is people, and not just for show. It’s everything, it’s behind the scenes, real people. This idea was discussed alongside many others in a Talanoa (talk) session held on the Runway evening.

One Talanoa session was hosted by Sandhya Dusk Devi Nand and featured Jewellery Designer Ryan Storer, Beauty Brand owner Mele Olivetti and Climate Activist Joseph-Zane Sikulu.

Climate activist Joseph-Zane Sikulu of 350.org, spoke of his passion for helping fellow Pacific Island people to find their voice to help them advocate for their communities, working so that the community can thrive, not just survive.

“You can shift the world by sharing stories,” Mr Sikulu said during a Talanoa session, where he alluded to the idea that a thriving community is the real success.

Sandhya Dusk Devi Nand joined the Pacific Runway team in 2015 as a photographer, a collaboration that worked so naturally that she became publicist and lead-show photographer as part of Jannike Seiuli’s management team the following year.

“The larger impact of the show is really, breaking the stereotype…that [The Pacific] is just a place to go to have holidays,” Ms Nand said.

“Pacific Runway proved that [runway model] presence comes in all shapes and sizes…across the gender spectrum.”

For a lot of people, fashion is a language people use, a storytelling device which can be used and explored in many ways.

“Fashion is a map of who we are, but it’s also a mask of who we want to be perceived as,” Sandhya Dusk Devi Nand said.

“[Clothing] is very much is an encyclopedia of someone’s personality.”

With singers and dance performances during both events across the two nights, the atmosphere was one of passion, connection and artistic expression.

Pacific Runway is, and has been for more than a decade, a platform to bring people together, and Jannike Seiuli’s legacy will continue to create a positive impact across many communities.
For more photos and to follow the journey of Pacific Runway click here