AS Jacque Whippy prepares for Fiji Fashion Week 2026, the designer is bringing a collection inspired by culture, resilience and hope to the runway.
Titled Na I Nuinui – The Hope, the collection draws influence from Whippy’s time living in the Middle East, where she was inspired by the elegance and individuality of Kurdish, Iraqi, Jordanian, Turkish and Egyptian fashion.
“The collection is about layered dressing, flowing silhouettes and textured details, but more importantly, it reflects the spirit of the people I met — their resilience, warmth and hope,” she said.
Whippy explained that fashion in the Middle East felt deeply connected to storytelling and identity, something she wanted to translate into her designs for Fiji Fashion Week.
Balancing the creation of a runway collection while managing a fashion boutique has not been easy.
“With much difficulty — and a lot of caffeine,” she joked.
“The business side demands structure, while designing requires creativity, so switching between both can feel overwhelming.”
Although runway collections are usually prepared almost a year in advance, Whippy only committed to the show in January.
Since then, she has created more than 50 sketches, narrowing them down to around 12 to 15 final looks.
She also sourced fabrics locally in Suva, embracing the challenge of transforming accessible materials into elevated runway pieces.
While fashion was not always her first passion, Whippy said she eventually fell in love with the artistry behind design.
“There’s something magical about taking an idea and turning it into something people can wear and connect with,” she said.
For aspiring designers, her advice is simple: “Fashion is hard work, but if you love creating, stay curious, keep learning and don’t wait for perfection.”
