Lepou next to an early work in 2017

Lindah Aaron Lepou is a New Zealand-Samoan fashion designer.[1][2] Her work is included in the permanent collection of Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa.[3]

Early life

Lepou was born in Wellington and lived in Cannons Creek, Porirua until she was nine. She then moved to Samoa.[1] When she was 15, she won a scholarship to Brigham Young University–Hawaii, however she only studied there for three months before returning to Samoa.[2]

Lepou won a beauty pageant, with the prize of a trip to New Zealand, and moved to Auckland. In 1994 she entered her first fashion competition, the Benson & Hedges Awards; she entered a flax tutu, which the organisers placed in the Avant Garde category, however the following year the competition opened a Pacific Influences category for entries such as hers.[2]

Career

In 2005, Lepou was the supreme winner of the Style Pasifika Fashion Awards.

In 2015, Lepou worked with choreographer Neil Ieremia to design costumes for SIVA, a show marking the 20th anniversary of Black Grace Dance Company.[1] In 2017, Lepou was the Matairangi Mahi Toi Pasifika artist in residence at Government House, Wellington.[4]

Lepou's work features traditional Samoan materials and skills such as tapa cloth and pandanus leaves.[4][5]

Lepou won the Special Recognition Award at the 2021 Arts Pasifika Awards.[6][7]

References

  1. ^ a b c "15 minutes with Lindah Lepou". Stuff. 19 October 2015. Retrieved 2018-09-23.
  2. ^ a b c Noted. "Lindah Lepou - The Listener". Noted. Retrieved 2018-09-23.
  3. ^ "Lindah Lepou | Collections Online - Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa". collections.tepapa.govt.nz. Retrieved 2018-09-23.
  4. ^ a b "Lindah Lepou showcase". Retrieved 2018-09-23.
  5. ^ ""Flax" Tutu (actually pandanus) | Collections Online - Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa". collections.tepapa.govt.nz. Retrieved 2018-09-23.
  6. ^ Tokalau, Torika (2021-11-15). "Pacific artists recognised for contribution to Pacific art in Aotearoa". Stuff. Retrieved 2021-11-19.
  7. ^ "25th Annual Creative New Zealand Arts Pasifika Awards Recognise Excellence And Innovation | Scoop News". www.scoop.co.nz. 2021-11-15. Retrieved 2021-11-19.
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