Our people were storytellers and some of our stories were told through patterns and symbols. And as a proud tama’ita’i Samoa from Samoa and now living in Wellington, this collection was born out of much deep revisiting and reflecting on my childhood. The memories of making stained glasses with my father (Auvaa Masoe), my aiga (family) dream business, love for aganu’u (Samoan culture), and tatau (Samoan tattooing). The garments challenge the va (sacred space/in between spaces) and became a middle ground that harmonies my expanded identity as Samoan-Christians and a child of migration. The pieces are named after my four sisters, so that despite who wears them they too are telling our stories with them in different spaces and time.
Wearing the stories on our bodies
Bachelor of Design with Honours
Our people were storytellers and some stories were told through patterns and symbols. As a proud tama’ita’i Samoa living in Wellington, this collection reflects on my childhood. The memories of making stained glasses with my father (Auvaa Masoe), love for aganu’u (Samoan culture), and tatau (Samoan tattooing). The garments challenge the va (sacred space/in between spaces) and became a middle ground that embody my expanded identity as a Samoan-Christian and a child of migration.