Help Get Young Designer Ina Malama to Fashion Week 2020

UPDATE* Alongside my own savings from work and the generous help of donors, sponsors and trusts I was able to secure my spot and pay half of the overall fee. I will be paying off the remaining end of June 2020

Heeya guys its Liaina Malama, known by all as Ina (e-na)

I am a young designer and fashion enthusiast who has just graduated from Massey University's COCA wellington campus with a bachelors degree in design, majoring in fashion with honours (BDes). I’ve been given the opportunity of a lifetime that never comes around easily for young emerging designers!

I’ve been invited to showcase my 2018 Graduate Menswear collection "Unfiltered Man" + new designs at the four fashion capitals of the world for fashion week 2020! These places include Milan, London, New York and Paris. I have been asked to either attend all 4 or at least one show representing Oxford Fashion Studios in their scheduled emerging designer shows during the week. Attending all 4 shows would be a dream but due to time constraints and the runway schedule I am only eyeing up New York to showcase. If in the case of bad luck New York gets fully booked I will be trying for the other cities on offer! I feel attracted to New York specifically because my work is a mens streetwear collection and New York has a rich streetwear culture embedded in its roots and history.

I’ll need to raise roughly $18,000 NZD in total with deposit included to secure my spot on the runway schedule for New York (or any of the other exciting locations if NY doesn't fall through). The deposit of roughly $6,000 is needed ASAP as these shows get booked quickly. Each collection show only reserves up to 15 designer spots and I would love to be one of them. The $18,000 raised will go towards the following

1. Deposit

2. Paying for my creative designer package which includes runway fee, casting models, PR/Press, professional photography/creative media and underlying production costs such as music and props.

3. Small partial of the funds or additional raised will go towards flights and accomodation

Background on my graduate menswear collection "Unfiltered Man" below:

"My collection focuses on the lack of diversity and creative integrity seen in current menswear compared to females. Increasingly evident within the ready to wear retail sectors this is heavily influenced by social aspects such as toxic masculinity, male gender norms, and stereotypes burdening the male identity and encouraging a culture of conformity. Touching on playful pastel tones, quirky stripes, texture and voluminous curves Unfiltered Man strives to foster the individuality and character of men enabling them to embrace and sustain an emotional connection with fashion. Through a explorative streetwear aesthetic my collection generates a new approach to menswear transforming the perceptions of males through the use of clothing as a form of expression".

Being so young in my career and fresh out of Massey University it’s crazy to think that I’ve even been invited especially when over 40,000 applicants are reviewed each year by the runway scouters. I am one of the only designers picked who have not established a brand yet and am working as a one man team to establish a name for myself in the competitive industry. I work as a fashion retail assistant and I am working around the clock to contribute as much proceeds as I can personally. My life savings and devotions are going into this dream and despite the price I firmly believe you can achieve anything if you set your mind to it. I am determined to overcome obstacles and make the dream work. Please help me make my dream come true and to help bring my aspired brand i.n.a apparel to life. Going on this trip would kick start my fashion career and would open me up to endless possibilities for the future. Most importantly it will allow me to share my passion and creativity with the world which I am honoured to share. Love and blessings I hope to make you all proud x

Follow my media and fashion journey

Feature on Re: https://www.renews.co.nz/ina-malama-is-smashing-toxic-masculinity-with-soft-pastel-tones/

Featured Article: https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/392828/new-zealand-graduate-designer-ina-malama-s-masculine-pastels-invited-to-global-fashion-shows?fbclid=IwAR0BijwJVnWqwCwzgLmu6EsFR6QeeblPPVQGUs-KaGbOKtt1wVYJMpPMGJk

Featured Interview on The Project NZ: https://www.threenow.co.nz/shows/the-project/tuesday-25-june-2019/S1173-784/M31403-725

Instagram: @i.n.a_apparel

email: inamalama.29@gmail.com

Facebook: Ina Malama Williams

Apparel Magazine Feature: http://apparelmagazine.co.nz/blog/editors-pick-liaina-malama/

Massey Exposure: https://exposure2018.massey.ac.nz/students/fashion/ina-malama/

Thank you all!

Ina Malama