IT was a night of true Melanesian culture as students of the University of the South Pacific (USP) took to the runway to showcase their cultural roots at the Melanesian Fashion show last night.
The show, which was part of USP's three-day celebrations to mark the 25th anniversary of the Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG), saw a display of Melanesian cultures and entertainment from various cultural student associations.
Speaking at the event last night, University's deputy vice-chancellor Dr Esther Williams described the evening as "a truly unforgettable experience".
So it was displaying numerous pre-contact attire modelled by students of Fijian, Solomon Islands, Vanuatu and Papua New Guinea descent.
Students were seen to be modelling traditional beads, anklets, skirts and some even went completely topless in an attempt to capture the true pre-contact essence of the show. Event organiser and renowned local designer Hupfeld Hoerder said the themes of the show were aimed at highlighting the unity of the Melanesian states.
"It was more like a story with the pre-contact period where they come in their traditional gowns and traditional music is played and then try and make the transition into contemporary Melanesian," Mr Hoerder said.