May 17, 2019, Suva, FIJI -  Samson Lee Fiji's vanua print was on display at an historic climate change summit convened with the UN secretary-general Antonio Guterres at the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF)

 

The trip marks the first time a sitting UN secretary-general will meet with PIF leaders in the region.

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"The Pacific is at the frontline of climate change, we are living it everyday and I am very proud to have been approached by PIF to use my signature 'Vanua' (meaning land) print to showcase our culture through fashion " said Lee. 

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 The 'Vanua' print are motifs that represent the flora and fauna of our land.In Fijian culture the land represents our people and their connection to their way of life. 

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"Our land is our essence, we are slowly losing this to the sea levels rising, this print represents our connection to the vanua, we are here still standing and I am most proud to see our Prime Minister and UN Secretary General wearing those particular prints" said Lee 

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While the majority of the male leaders opted for the traditional 'Bula' shirt, female leaders opted for skirts or blouses with the print and most notable was PIF Secretary General, Dame Meg Taylor who paired a black dress with a tunic jacket with the 'vanua' print.

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ENDS- 

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