FIJI Fashion Week (FJFW) director Ellen Whippy-Knight was one of the eight Commonwealth Fashion Council members who formally presented their fashion pieces at Buckingham Palace on Tuesday.
Ms Whippy-Knight said she was honoured to have represented the Fiji Fashion Industry and Fiji fashion designer, Hupfeld Hoerder.
“Mr Hoerder asked me to represent his extraordinary creation at the CFE launch, in his absence,” Ms Whippy-Knight said.
“Hupfeld’s masterpiece, created in an exchange with three artisanal women from Vanuatu, impressed everyone there.
“Not in my wildest dreams did I think I’d be at Buckingham Palace one day promoting Fiji Fashion, conversing with her Royal Highness Catherine Middleton, the Duchess of Cambridge glowing in an Erdem dress that showed off her baby bump.
“Being formally presented to their Royal Highnesses was truly a moment I will treasure all my life together with witnessing the reaction of the esteemed guests to Hupfeld’s work of art, was truly rewarding.”
Ms Whippy-Knight said the Commonwealth Fashion Council was a non-profit organisation uniting more than 20 nations from across the Commonwealth fashion industries.
“The industry is aimed to deliver programs that focus on adding value to fashion industries through advocating business development, sustainability, education, trade, youth and gender empowerment — values shared by FJFW and Fiji Designers Alliance of Fiji, chaired by Adi Koila Ganilau-Lee.”
