HUMBLE BEGINNINGS
It was growing up in Melbourne as a child that I gained my life-long taste of sophisticated style whilst revelling in my city's freedom of artistic self-expression.
Many years later in September 2015, I seized the opportunity to launch my own fashion label House of Ratu in-between completing a Bachelor of Business degree and commencing Bachelor of Laws at Bond University on the Gold Coast, Australia.
I saw an opportunity in the marketplace to design elegant wear for the sophisticated islander-city woman by combining island breeze and cosmopolitan chic in one fabulous unique style.
The "Nailikuvasili" collection, launched at the Brisbane-based Pacific Fashion Festival in October 2015, was an ode to my effervescent maternal grandmother, Adi Arieta Adibuli Ravai, who hailed from Soa Village in the province of Ra, Fiji.
Many years later in September 2015, I seized the opportunity to launch my own fashion label House of Ratu in-between completing a Bachelor of Business degree and commencing Bachelor of Laws at Bond University on the Gold Coast, Australia.
I saw an opportunity in the marketplace to design elegant wear for the sophisticated islander-city woman by combining island breeze and cosmopolitan chic in one fabulous unique style.
The "Nailikuvasili" collection, launched at the Brisbane-based Pacific Fashion Festival in October 2015, was an ode to my effervescent maternal grandmother, Adi Arieta Adibuli Ravai, who hailed from Soa Village in the province of Ra, Fiji.
present day
Fast-forward to 2019 and after immersing myself back into my Fijian roots for a period of 2 months, I returned to my Gold-Coast based home in Australia with a new lease of passion and vigour for House of Ratu's future.
Whilst in Fiji from August - October 2019, I restored my warrior spirit of strength, bravery and power; traits passed down from my ancestors and chiefly figures gone before me. I rediscovered my sense of fearlessness and a character that is bold, courageous and lionhearted.
Finding myself again amongst family in the depths of grassroot living in my village of Tavua, Fiji, has resulted in
House of Ratu relaunching with a menswear collection that reflects both that warrior spirit and fearless attitude
in all of its designs.
The recent "Warrior" collection, which fuses traditional tapa prints with a professional twist, is an ode to the entrepreneurial spirit found all over Fiji with an abundance of masculine energy.
Whilst in Fiji from August - October 2019, I restored my warrior spirit of strength, bravery and power; traits passed down from my ancestors and chiefly figures gone before me. I rediscovered my sense of fearlessness and a character that is bold, courageous and lionhearted.
Finding myself again amongst family in the depths of grassroot living in my village of Tavua, Fiji, has resulted in
House of Ratu relaunching with a menswear collection that reflects both that warrior spirit and fearless attitude
in all of its designs.
The recent "Warrior" collection, which fuses traditional tapa prints with a professional twist, is an ode to the entrepreneurial spirit found all over Fiji with an abundance of masculine energy.
LOGO
The brand’s logo is clean-cut and the “tabua” [whale’s tooth], is used to represent the chiefly status of the name Ratu in Fijian society. Tabua is an important cultural item in Fiji and were significant in negotiations between rival chiefs.
The shape of the strand attached to the tabua spells “M”, which honours my first name; Miriam.
The shape of the strand attached to the tabua spells “M”, which honours my first name; Miriam.
