denani designs
Name: Elizabeth Ruby Taurega Omeri
Age: 50 years
Home province: Mix parentage of Milne Bay/Central (Trobriand Island- Milne Bay/Marshall Lagoon/Domara Central)
Marital status: Married
Fashion Label: DENANI (Traditional name of my late father, Tony Denani Goweli Taurega)
SLOGAN: CULTURE ON TEXTILE: My Culture, My Tradition, My Identity
Signature Design: Doba (Currency). We stand to be corrected but we believe that Trobriand Island women are the only women in the world who create their own currency apart from the traditional general currency of clay pots and stone axes in PNG. The women’s traditional currency is called DOBA. This same name is used for grass skirt too which is a shortened name for DOBATOLA. DOBATOLA = grass skirt. The traditional money has been recognized as a valuable commodity of which the official currency is now kina and toea. Doba is made from special type of banana leaves engraved using money board, “Kaidawaga” which is then turned into a very valuable commodity - money which is called “Doba”. Doba is used in traditional gatherings, mainly used in feasts, exchange of goods.
The process:
The traditional money is made from the special type of banana leaves that is laid on the kaidawaga (money board) that has already been carved with different motifs. It’s usually the role of men to carve the special designs on the money board using the wood from kwila tree then pass on to their wives, mothers or sisters to scrape the banana leaves. The pattern on the money board (kaidawaga) shows on the scraped banana leaves. The scraped banana leaves are then bleached in the sun until dry. Once the leaves are dry, they then bundle 50 pieces together. These 50 leaves have a value of PGK5.00 (1euro) The fibers of a fraction of the thousands of bundles made each year are dyed and used to make the women’s skirts. This finished product is called DOBATOLA- Grass skirt.
Traditional names:
- Doba/Dobatola- Grass skirt
- Kaidawaga-Money board carved out from the kwila tree
- Nuninga- The bundled motif banana leaves used in feasts (sagaris) and other special occasion or in exchange for food, etc. - Sepwana- Bundle of grass skirt
MOTTO: PRESERVE, PROMOTE AND PROTECT OUR RICH CULTURAL HERITAGE & Natural Environment from been harmed.
Beginnings:
I began my sewing in early 20’s by creating and making garments for my family and close friends, and grew confidence in designing and creating bridal, evening and ready to wear garments. Always experimenting with colors, fabric manipulation, paints to create fun designs. Self-taught in sewing but gained more knowledge in pattern designing skills and body measurement from PNG Garment and Textile Training Institute in 2009 in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea.
Who we are:
DENANI DESIGNS is a Papua New Guinean registered business and is 100% nationally owned.
Denani Designs is a fashion label that has been involved in the fashion industry since the reviving and inception of the Fashion Runway platforms in PNG since 2014. We have been associating with different high key fashion industries and organizations promoting our culture on textile in PNG and international.
Inspiration: Inspired by the surrounding nature, and unique traditional patterns and designs of our culture and tradition that signifies our heritage which have been passed on over the years through storytelling, arts, traditional dancing, and unique and beautiful traditional costumes celebrating our country’s diversity. We are rich in cultural diversity with more than 800 languages, associated with beliefs, dances and customs.
Denani Designs has embraced sustainable fashion and focuses on sustainable practices through the method of eco printing using natural dyes and plants with a touch of our traditional designs promoting our country’s biodiversity Working with Nature (Papua New Guinea also recognized in the world for our rainforest acting as the lungs for global communities).
We align our business LABEL to the five (5) SDG pillars of PEOPLE, PROSPERITY, PLANET, PEACE, and PARTNERSHIP ► What we do: Our experience is what we build on to empower others.
We have a Training Arm empowering women and youth with capacity building programs aimed to teach life skills. Our training programs cover- Introduction to Body measurement; Pattern drafting and Garment construction, textile & Eco Printing workshop promoting the use of natural dyes and plants from our natural environment.
The community programs we run in city and rural centres are part of Denani Designs initiative of giving back to the communities, providing a free service through workshops to empower women, youth and students for the love of creativity. This is in line with SDG 11- Making cities inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable; SDG 5- Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls.
Vision/Mission: To be the hub that harnesses, supports and promotes cultural, ethical and sustainable fashion that leads to social and economic improvements in the community through exchange of knowledge, collaboration and partnerships around sustainability practices for a sustainable community.
Values:
We are people- centered approach to sustainability
We consider people, planet and design of our work in diversity.
We focus on sustainable design which considers the quality of fabric, production process and use.
Major highlight under Sustainable Fashion: Denani Designs participated in the Sustainable Fashion Week-UK in 2023. A community program organised by Sustainable Fashion Week-Uk with the mission to bring the community together to take creative action and change fashion from the bottom up.
Rewear: Repurpose: Regenerate: Reconnect
Theme: ReWear Revolution. We represented not only PNG but the Pacific as a whole, promoting sustainable practices through eco printing. Running a couple of workshops empowering our women and youth to embrace and create our own designs working with nature. Embracing the old traditional ways of hand stitching, hand painting and eco printing using second hand fabric or garments bringing them to life.
Sewing lets you express yourself through your creations. From selecting the pattern and fabric to putting the finishing touches, every aspect of this activity allows you to be creative while designing your own clothing. It also gives you something to be proud of as your creations can make you stand out from the rest.
Some of the achievements/highlights:
Fashion show runways:
Stella runway- 2013/2014 (First official runway)
Pacific Fashion Festival (Leniata legacy) 2015/2018: Fundraiser towards victims of GBV in PNG/ Pacific International Runway/ PNG Fashion platforms: 2018/2019/2021/2023
PNG Fashion Week- 2018
Youth Empowerment Fashion Show (Fundraising drive for Father Glenn Foundation) 2019
PNG Fashion & Design Week – 2019/2021/2023
Pacific International Runway, Sydney- Australia- 2019
Miss Pacific Island PNG Project Runway/ Miss PNG:
Quest - 2016/2017/2018/2021/2022 3. Miss PNG Quest:
2011/2015/2016/2017/2023
Had the opportunity to dress contestants participating in the quest.
Change in Papua New Guinea is like a ‘roller coaster’ and we must protect our rich cultural heritage. The modern lifestyle can cause our rich culture to extinction without notice and if lost, we lose our identity and our heritage. The opportunity is
NOW, for Papua New Guineans to use their creativity, talent, knowledge, skills and natural resources to preserve, promote and protect our rich cultural heritage and environment. The traditional contemporary wear is my story, my heritage and my pride as a Papua New Guinean.