Lavagirl making inroads into Fiji fashion market

LOCAL fashion brand Lavagirl is now making inroads into the Fiji market as owner and designer Annette Sete continues to expand in the Pacific market.
Lavagirl has established itself among the women seamstresses with her fabric and distinctive prints.
Sete recently returned from Suva where she held talks with fellow fashion designer Michael Mausio of the House of Mausio who will be distributing Lavagirl in Fiji. Lavagirl garments including PNG’s meri blouse or kolo is among some of the first products into the House of Mausio, plus fabric pieces.
Sete said the arrangement would also see her Maku Gifts Shops in Port Moresby carrying the Fijian brand, which will compliment her product range.
Her business has customers in Fiji and has become popular in Melanesian countries.
“Michael and I have a similar attitude towards business growth, especially finding new markets, and pushing sales. So an arrangement to ensure our products are available to customers in both countries had to be made.”
Both designers were represented during the Miss PNG Pacific Islands Designers Fashion Show in Port Moresby last month.
Mausio said the House of Mausio wanted to give its clients a variety of products and the Fiji market would appreciate Lavagirl prints, bright colours and garment styles.
He said PNG was a growing and sizable market for Mausio’s prints and garments.
“In terms of volume, PNG has a more attractive volume base for any business in terms of size compared to Fiji.”