L'Oreal New Zealand Fashion Week 2003

Drawing on her European and Maori ancestry, Leiana Rei successfully incorporates indigenous design elements into her range to create fashionable clothing that is inclusive and cutting edge.

"My designs have a distinct New Zealand flavour and target the High End Fashion market for women who want funky, street savvy cutting edge design," says Leiana Rei.

On the catwalk she mixes her stunning Resortwear Collection featuring a line of paua print swimwear and delicate chiffon wraps together with a High Fashion Daywear Collection tailored for the office and street.

Leiana Rei High Fashion Daywear

Inspiration for Leiana Rei's High Fashion Daywear Collection is derived from the whakarua kopito patterns based on diamonds, also known as taniko patterns which are seen in Maori headbands, belts and women's bodices.

The garments have 3-dimensional textural and artistic appeal achieved by stitching the taniko pattern onto a panel on the garment, then cutting it out to reveal a contrast colour of mesh underneath.

Leiana Rei's design process focuses on creating lines that complement the female form and give it shape. The taniko patterns provide an hourglass effect, corset belts give the illusion of a high waist, while an overskirt worn over a mini provides a mini alternative.

Colours reflect earthy tones complemented by the colour and pattern of the Paua shell.

Leiana Rei Resortwear

Leiana Rei's Pacifica and paua-inspired trans-seasonal Resortwear collection is an extension of her High Fashion Daywear label when women want to slip out of their corporate clothing and into something more comfortable for mid-winter holidays in the sun.

"I have always wanted to do something with Paua and now thanks to digital printing methods I didn't have the limitations of screen printing, the only limit was my imagination," says Leiana Rei.

"The colours, movement and fluidity of the Paua pattern inspired me to use it for swimwear."

The Paua design is a collaboration between Leiana Rei and sponsor SAM Design and Print of Tawa, Wellington. The graphic designer at SAM combined multiple photographs from a polished Paua shell in to a printable file. SAM Design & Print then produced samples of the design for testing with a choice of several colour options. Once the testing was completed, the Paua design was digitally printed on to the various fabrics that were used in the final collection.

“The results were absolutely stunning! The design team at SAM were excellent, they knew exactly what I wanted to achieve and were able to deliver the finished fabric in a matter of days! There is no way screen printing could have achieved this level of quality or produced the printed fabric as quickly” says Leiana Rei

Leiana Rei chose chloroban to make the swimwear for the same reason athletes prefer it - its chlorine resistant and long life qualities.

She has also incorporated real Paua shell pieces into bikini straps and used them to decorate garments.

Collection basics include tri bikini, tankini, underwire bra and full swimming costume with high, medium and low cut leg options, and light and sexy chiffon wraps that can be used to cover up.

The collection is complemented by Minx shoes whose Paua sandals caused a sensation at Mercedes Australian Fashion Week 2002, contemporary Maori jewellery by Zoya Beri that is available from the Kura Gallery in Wellington and sunglasses by The Sunglass Store.