Tatau inspires winning design

A recent fashion design graduate and mother-of-four, Sandra Tupu has taken out the top two awards at Westfield Style Pasifika Fashion Awards with her three piece collection, Tatau winning the Supreme Award and her menswear design of the same name winning her the Runner-Up prize.

Samoan tattoo or tatau is the inspiration behind the design that took top honours at the awards event tonight. 

“The art of tatau is deeply embedded into Samoan culture and history and my collection explores this. It’s part of my heritage, my inspiration and my passion,” Sandra said of the winning designs which feature interesting fabric draping and innovative use of natural materials such as antique flour bags, army blankets, calico and merino wool.
 
“The traditional shape of the tatau, when unwrapped from the body represents the Pe’a – the Samoan flying bat. I took the physical bat shape and played around with it - creating some interesting drape shapes in parts of the garments.  Drape is generally only used in women’s wear so it was a real challenge to keep a masculine look,” she said.

Judges described Tupu’s three piece suits as “very wearable”, “beautifully made” and “sophisticated”.

“The designs have lovely paleted colours – very earthy. The whole look is quite slouchy and very wearable,” said judge Liz Mitchell. 

Judge Denise L’Estrange-Corbet from WORLD said it was unprecedented that a designer had taken out both the Supreme Award and Runner Up. “It shows the strength of the collection. She was a stand-out winner,” she said, “Her garments were modern, had quirky twists, which we always like, and blended together really well.  It was a very commercial collection. It could be put straight into a store, and will sell, and that is what it is about".

Tupu’s winning designs are constructed from a variety of materials including recycled cotton flour bags found in antique shops, old picnic and army blankets, merino and calico. Tupu used recycled materials as a reconnection with her roots; “my grandmother made many things with old flour bags” and used natural fabrics “to give my designs a grounded down-to-earth feel”. 

"I wanted a style that was relaxed and comfortable – but also slightly dishevelled, projecting a wise and worn look," said Tupu.

Tupu (45) describes herself as a late starter being ‘an older student but a new designer’. She graduated from the Auckland University of Technology in 2009 with a Bachelor of Design majoring in fashion and specialising in menswear. 

“I was an at-home mum for a long time but have always been interested in design and fashion,” she said.  “I’ve made a lot of my clothes since I was young – my grandma and my mum taught me.  I wanted to retrain when I lived in Melbourne and started a diploma over there but made a serious decision to study again when we moved back to New Zealand.  While the kids were at school there was an opportunity for me to take three years out and finally do it.”

The Supreme Winner takes away $3000 in prize money and two return tickets to the Pacific on Pacific Blue. The runner-up wins $2000 in prize money.  Each category winner receives $1000.

Sandra Tupu is mother to four children (aged 10, 14, 16, 19) and is based in Titirangi, Auckland.  Sandra graduated from Auckland University of Technology in 2009. She is currently setting up her own menswear design business.

Winners and runners up in each of the 10 Westfield Style Pasifika New Zealand Fashion Awards categories:

SUPREME WINNER

Sandra Tupu (Titirangi, Auckland)

Runner up

Sandra Tupu (Titirangi, Auckland)

Youthtown Traditionally Inspired

Winner: Lindah Lepou & Louina Fifita (Mt Eden, Auckland)

Runner up: Kohai Grace (Porirua)

Resene Asia Pasifika

Winner: Vanessa Roscoe (Mangere, Auckland)     

Runner up: Margaret Lewis (Westmere, Auckland) 

MAX Three Piece Collection of Day Wear

Winner: Sandra Tupu (Titirangi, Auckland)   

Runner up: Blaire Archibald (Mt Eden, Auckland)  

NZAF Pasifika Hero

Winner: James Leuii (Westmere, Auckland)    

Runner up: Naomi Spicer & Terry Whaitiri (Parnell, Auckland)

Flava Urban Street Wear

Winner: Margaret Lewis (Westmere, Auckland) 

Runner up: Fa’afoi Robyn Seaso (Porirua)

Barkers Pasifika Menswear

Winner: Sandra Tupu (Titirangi, Auckland)   

Runner up: Amber Bridgman (Dunedin)

getfunkd Hutt Evening Wear

Winner: Sarah Friis (Tauranga)

Runner up: Hayley Erasmus (Mt Maunganui) 

Pacific Blue Pasifika Bridal

Winner: Debra Laraman (KatiKati)

Runner up: Visesio Louis Thomsen (Manurewa, Auckland)  

­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­Te Puni Kokiri Parent & Child

Winner: Erna Van Der Wat (Rothesay Bay, Auckland)

Runner up: Hannah Blackburn (Palmerston North)