Cecilia Keil

Like many designers, it took Keil a long time for the breakthrough.

Her very first engagement as a designer was creating the wardrobe for Miss Samoa in 1996.

And something which started off as a hobby has brought her far from her kitchen table, onto local and regional runways and eventually the big jump to the red carpets of Hollywood.

Designs by most Pacific designers are traditionally inspired, making it unique to their culture.

Thus, the main concern is when traditional designs are copied and then mass produced at cheaper prices.

But despite this being raised with respective governments yearly, the issue continues to remain, threatening culture and local businesses.

Cecilia Keil, a Samoan designer currently in Port Moresby for a fashion workshop, spoke with Loop PNG on this.