Papua New Guinea Fashion Week and Samoa’s LIFE-Con Pacific have announced a lifetime partnership aimed at expanding market access, creative collaboration, and business opportunities between the two nations.
The agreement, officially announced at the LIFE-Con Pacific Samoa 2026 event, establishes a permanent travel and professional network for designers, models, and creative entrepreneurs to collaborate directly between Papua New Guinea and Samoa.
The event also marked a historic milestone as David Rei Kila-Pat, founder of MaiMai Designs, became the first-ever Papua New Guinean fashion designer to showcase at LIFE-Con Pacific Samoa. Kila-Pat served as PNG’s official representative and played a pivotal role in brokering the strategic alliance.
The partnership expands market access for both nations, opening the doors for artisans, photographers, makeup artists, and stylists to collaborate across borders while preserving Pacific culture.
PNG Fashion Week Founder and Managing Director Philma Kelegai said the partnership is a crucial step in positioning PNG as a leading force in the Pacific creative sector.
“Adding Samoa to our growing family of strategic partners further strengthens our vision of creating a truly connected Pacific fashion and creative industry,” Kelegai said.
“Fashion is much more than clothing. It is culture, identity, tourism, trade, education and economic empowerment.”
Kevin Lucky, Founder and Managing Director of LIFE-Con Pacific Samoa, also welcomed the collaboration, stating it reflects a shared vision for regional empowerment.
“Our partnership with PNG Fashion Week is a natural step forward that will strengthen relationships between our countries, create new business opportunities and give our designers and models access to new audiences,” Lucky said.
Reflecting on his historic runway presentation, Kila-Pat said the experience demonstrated the immense power of regional collaboration.
“This partnership is about building bridges through creativity,” he said.
“We are creating pathways for Pacific creatives to learn from one another, collaborate, build businesses and inspire the next generation.”
The exchange will continue later this year, with PNG Fashion Week preparing to welcome Samoan designers, models, and delegates to Port Moresby this September for PNG Fashion Week 2026.
