Budding fashion designer, Alipate Sowane is one of the twenty three designers that is hoping to tap into the business market at the Bottega Gold Fijian Fashion Festival in Suva this weekend.

Sowane who is a final year nursing student, says his designs will portray some of the things he believes in, as an individual.

He says his twelve piece designs will also tell a unique story.

“My collection is based on some drawings that i used to do, all of the drawings like they collect and become a story, so i named it the hidden people. Each of the pieces that I am showcasing this year is based on one of the characters in that story. The characters stand for different things that I believe in, stuff like freedom, rights, sexuality and things like that. I am really hoping this festival can push me out there.”

Meanwhile, this is a platform created by the Fashion Council of Fiji for local designers who are ready to take their business to the next level.

Chair, Faraz Ali says the event aims to inspire budding designers and showcase the immense talents that could put Fiji in the international market.