Fashion: Good and the bad

THE modeling and fashion industry in Papua New Guinea is relatively new and like so many new industries, it is bound to be met with widespread scrutiny and criticism.
I have read arguments on both sides regarding the recent controversial outfit worn by a PNG model in a recent photo shoot.
First, I think the beautiful models were confident to step up to the task. They showed much courage and pride, knowing that in a country like ours, there was bound to be criticisms along the way.
The beautiful outfits were evidently the result of tireless work put in by the very talented and creative designers and the photo shoot itself was a testimony to the dedication and commitment of all parties involved.
I loved the fact that all outfits were inspired by our traditional bilas and sense of style, but I also understand why the controversial outfit stirred up so much emotion.
To be honest, as a Papua New Guinean woman, I was appalled to see the photos of the model in that outfit as many would agree with me that PNG woman do not usually walk out in public butt naked.
And just because it is okay to dress like that in countries like the United States and Australia, does not make it okay for PNG. In the US, women wear bikinis at the beach, so it is not a cultural shock when they see their models in bikinis in front of planes.
In PNG, people hardly ever see a butt-naked woman in a blouse in public places; they only see them in their homes, in the privacy of their rooms.
So, can you blame a PNG man for being stirred when you give him an image that reminds him of how a woman undresses before sex? Imagine if the model had worn her traditional outfit and she was half naked in front of the plane, would that have caused a controversy? No. This is because traditional outfits are not meant to be sexually enticing and, secondly, they are part of our pride and culture and will not come as a cultural shock to any ordinary Papua New Guinean.
Yes, one may argue that PNG needs to embrace change to develop but like countries like Japan and Iran, I’m sure PNG can develop without sexualizing our women.
What I am trying to say here is our fashion industry should be a good reflection of the fashion style of PNG women.
Lastly, I have seen how most PNG models have reacted to the controversy on social media. If you want to be in the public eye, you should learn to deal with everything that comes with it in a professional way.
Some criticisms are good for you; they are called constructive criticism, which can be used as a stepping stone for you to move forward. Take this in your stride and move forward.

Wanpla Meri PNG