The Lives of Our Days

14/06/2024

Fiji's Wella Design Awards 1994

https://youtu.be/L9p-XZqEM8U?si=NbispeUtDBmdBtKX

11/06/2024

COVER: 3 of Fiji's top models of the times for the Patrick Cameron hair show segment.

WELLA DESIGN AWARDS 1994.
Date: July 15th 1994
Venue: Sheraton Fiji, Denarau Island.

"Project '91 was a charity to raise funds for a hospital in Nadi, as well as medical equipment and supplies. As the show was generously sponsored by WELLA of the region Wella Professionals of course a highlight was a super hairstylist performance artist!

It was the charity founder's idea to also feature fashion, to up the glam-ante, and as I was the model with the highest and multi-genre profile plus lived onsite, I was asked to join the committee as the Creative Director of the show.

Fiji has had a glamorous elite, colonial BUT multicultural fashion scene since the 60s, its society was used to exclusive and prestigious [infrequent] fashion shows.
I was discovered by fashion industry icons of the 80s [women doing significant, trailblazing, fabulous things in media and fashion] [...]

I was a major part of fashion in Fiji late 80s to late 90s, the most well-known model, a household name albeit because of my TV, radio and singing careers as well. All of these industries overlapped and coordinated in positive ways back then.

By 1994 shows had become more accessible to the wanting-glam-experiences public. Weekly/monthly/mid-week lunchtime exclusive shows, primarily in troppo-politan Suva, mainly at the [outside of Suva city] Tradewinds Hotel.

The ahead of its time label/on-site boutique Image, founded by a Suva based veteran top model, ran the shows, featuring all the top Suva boutiques and labels, their latest stock, many their latest designs, modelled by the top models, newbies and "supers".

The All Blacks used to stay at the Tradewinds around this time.
Fiji's beautiful people and societywallas AND Rugby elite? Yes the Tradewinds was THE scene to be seen.

The shows still combined fashion and music, dance as well, quite a lot of dance actually. Very entertaining and worldly, audiences liked being educated as well as entertained. I was in the thick of it, such exciting times!
I can safely say the WELLA DESIGN AWARDS was the first big, national collective, fashion event and it evolved the fashion industry. I didn't start nor discover, I helped elevate an already full of creativity industry.

Fiji media legend Mere Lomaloma was the MC [and host when it aired on Fiji TV] and read out the garments stories while the models displayed and enhanced the garments.
[...]

I wrote/curated the garment descriptions and inspirations so, can remember them vividly... I talk about the talented designers, many, veterans of industry now; the TOP models of the time; international guest star, the eternally fabulous Patrick Cameron Hair and his spectacular hair show (a glimpse shown); the life, times and actions in the 90s and WHY we went with a competition format for a fashion show... just a bit of Fiji's modern, urban history, on STYLANDER." - Sandhya Nand

COVER: top models for the Patrick Cameron hair show segment.WELLA DESIGN AWARDS 1994.Date: July 15th 1994Venue, Sheraton Fiji, Denarau Island."Project '91 wa...

02/06/2024

"We lived* in Fiji for a few months in 2022... it was wonderful to live in our beautiful country of birth as a married couple, and for me, 23 years after I left.

This is Part 3 of our SUVA BACKYARD LOVO experience, my FIRST, despite having eaten Lovo from Hibiscus Festival food stalls and at hotels and society parties, etc.
I had never just 'casually' experienced a Lovo. It's not quite the same as having a backyard barbecue...

LOVO is a ceremony of gratitude, for land and land's bounty, for the means to make it palatable for our senses.
I am honoured to have experienced this and the circumstances made it more special.

Our landlord when we lived in Fiji was a most loved schoolteacher back when I was at SGS [represent**] in the 80s. Still very much liked and respected and still as fit as ever.
Duane calls him Uncle Ed as we do in Fiji, also because he's a family friend, his landlord pre-Aus and a lovely, kind, generous, capable man.
I could never not call him Mr McKenzie though!

We lived in the upstairs apartment, Mr McKenzie lived downstairs in his 2-storey family home.
Mr Mck a His anthurium nursery was a backyard botanic garden!
I am a Flora-Whisperer and Natural Enthusiast :) so we bonded over his plants, I don't know if he actually recognised me from SGS days.
Mr McK taught Woodwork/Metalwork and back then... girls were not allowed to do Woodwork/Metalwork, IKR?!

Anyway, I loved living in Suva again, and it was the first time I had lived outside of the Domain area in Suva!

A week before we flew back to Australia, I nonchalantly suggested we do a Lovo.........................



*Very different to the times I lived there, I have been fortunate to experience Fiji at its most progressive. There was a lot of hope in the air, it prevailed over the fear that drives it all now.BUT do not ever dare say anything against Fiji, not to me, not in front of me, sadly too many people do this.
Exploit then bad mouth the place but face to face, everyone fellates everyones egos.

These are the people that get put on pedestals, the ones who hide behind their lies the loudest, the ones who occupy the most space, figuratively -with pun intended- speaking.

We talk about this time on THE SLIDE SHOW -our travel memories show.

When in Fiji... LOVO.Fijian earth oven, a method utilised by many Polynesian and Melanesian Pacific Islanders.The Maori call it hangi; the Samoans call it 'u...

01/06/2024

THE FEED: Suva Backyard Lovo pt 3

When in Fiji... LOVO.Fijian earth oven, a method utilised by many Polynesian and Melanesian Pacific Islanders.The Maori call it hangi; the Samoans call it 'u...

01/06/2024

THE DAILY EGG returning Monday June 10th 2024

06/05/2024

WWIL S1 Ep 3:Fiji 1992... first election post coup; the creative rebellion and symbolic saris."I wore saris back then on TV for a reason. As a reminder. As ...

04/05/2024

04/05/2024

WWIL S1 Ep 3:
Fiji 1992... first election post coup; the creative rebellion and symbolic saris.

"I wore saris back then on TV for a reason. As a reminder. As a statement, which sounds rather intense but that's me. I take life seriously. Even when laughing.
My Mother used to help me get dressed, to make sure I got the drape right etc.
We all know how the aunties like to critique...

The dress I am wearing in this episode is a hooded dress I designed in 1992, made by a talented seamstress in Nadi, from a 60s sari that belonged to my Mother." - Sandhya

Dropping Sun May 5th 11am AEST

04/05/2024

LOVO pt 2... up now.

When in Fiji... LOVO.Fijian earth oven, a method utilised by many Polynesian and Melanesian Pacific Islanders.The Maori call it hangi; the Samoans call it 'u...

03/05/2024

THE FEED Sat 3pm AEST
SUVA BACKYARD LOVO pt 1 [link below]
This 2-part film is about an ancestral tradition, passed generation to generation*.

"We lived in Fiji for a few months in 2022 and just before we left, I requested of our wonderful landlord and Duane if we could do a lovo, not actually realising how length and intense a process it is.
I now understand why a backyard lovo is NOT the same as a backyard barbeque, and is not a weekly thing!

It was SO special for me because this was the first time I had SEEN a lovo done, not just casually, just at home but also, fullstop.
I had only seen a lovo done as part of the cultural entertainment on hotel grounds, and then ate the food that was had been cooked in the lovo... but...now I KNOW... it's not the same. Sorry.

The spirituality, the serenity, the mindfulness, the grounding, the connection with EARTH... the FLAVOUR.
What an experience. What an honour.."- Sandhya

Prepared by Duane Leewai and Mr McKenzie
Filmed and voiced by Sandhya Dusk Devi Nand

LOVO - Fijian earth oven, a method utilised by many Polynesian and Melanesian Pacific Islanders.
The Maori call it hangi; the Samoans call it 'umu'; in PNG it is known as 'mumu'... and all races have some form of underground oven because humans found a way to harness the heat of the sun to cook the bounty of earth.

When in Fiji... LOVO.Part 1 preparations. It's a long process but totally worth it.Please subscribe.00:22 Dalo (taro) Leaves 01:52 Moli Karo (lemons)03:56 Pr...

30/04/2024

When you have skills, lived experience, a spring of information and a calling, you don't wait for seats at the proverbial [gatekept] tables.

You build your own banquet table... with a smorgasbord of content.... like RUGBY.

RUCKS & ROLLS was the name of Sandhya's old Rugby blog, back when she was a Rugby journalist.
We love [the game of] Rugby. It requires thinking.

Here are some of our favourite moments in Rugby.

PS. Pick the "toxic male"... hint; SHE is a Gen Xer "you don't break at this level. You may crumble offstage but ON stage/field... you don't break." - Sandhya

Ep 2. fave moments in Rugby

28/04/2024

STYLANDER Ep 3:
Spotlight on contemporary designers from FIJI and PNG, many who showcased on the iconic PACIFIC RUNWAY... and many who SHOULD be stocked internationally, they are that good and frankly, better than a lot of what passes as fashion creativity now.

Also, WHAT DOES SUSTAINABILITY ACTUALLY MEAN? What does it mean for you?

Multicultural communities should be at the forefront when we talk about sustainability and ethical sensibilities...there's a fraction too much rhetoric in multicultural spaces.
Everyone [or AI] says the right things but there's not enough personal accountability and a huge reluctance to confront the jetsam AND lagan of colonialism...

PACIFIC RUNWAY and Pacific Runway designers and designs.

27/04/2024

STYLANDER Sunday 2pm AEST [LIVE]
Ep 3: Pacific Runway and Pacific origin designers ["many of my favourites, especially from Fiji and PNG." - Sandhya].

Link in comments section.

27/04/2024

WHAT WAS IT LIKE S1 Ep 2

Cover photos are from a 1991 shoot*, taken by Alan Harris on Toberua Island, Fiji.

"Celebrities and meritless fame-wh*res can have the spotlight.
This isn't about me. I'm a conduit, sharing global history through my lived experiences.
Perhaps it can help ignite self-belief in others.
THAT is what trailblazing is."

*image on left for renowned 80s/90s Fiji designer Tanya Whteside.

Season 1 is a focus on Sandhya's career life from 1989 till now, talking about the world from a global and public eye perspective."Celebrities and meritless ...

27/04/2024

Current shows. [Details on each page]
"us-centric" because we have a lot of information and lived experience knowledge and we WANT to share it all.

When you have skills and a calling, you don't wait for seats at the proverbial [gatekept] tables.
You build your own banquet table... with a smorgasboard of content.