Artisans helping bead Hupfeld Hoerder Designs' skirt

Designer Hupfeld Hoerder of Hupfeld Hoerder Designs from Fiji exchanged with artisans Tousong Kalsong, Liza Garo and Marie Rorou from Vanuatu, and Rolan & Anna Payet from Seychelles to create a bespoke look for The Commonwealth Fashion Exchange - an initiative for established and emerging fashion talent from across the Commonwealth’s 53 countries to showcase the power and potential of artisan fashion skills to deliver new networks, trade links and highlight sustainability.

Hupfeld has created an off-the-shoulder, corseted blouse from Vanuatu fibre, with a peplum finished with Fijian magimagi
(coconut fibre), barkcloth and mother of pearl shells embroidered into a geometric flower pattern. The skirt is made from recycled Fijian Masi cloth (a traditional cotton fabric) that is hand-printed with geometric designs representing various parts of the region and embellished with appliqued flowers. The look has been completed with jewellery created by Rolan & Anna Payet, using shells from the Seychelles.

The look was displayed at Buckingham Palace and the Australian High Commission, London. Both exhibitions were curated by VOGUE's Editor-at-Large, Hamish Bowles.

The project was launched by Commonwealth Secretary General the Rt Hon Patricia Scotland and Livia Firth, founder of sustainability consultancy Eco-Age and supported by Swarovski, The Woolmark Company and MATCHESFASHION.COM.