For the first time,  Life Con has attracted four international fashion designers to take part this year.

An ava ceremony was held at the Samoa Tourism Authority (S.T.A.) centre on Wednesday to welcome the designers. 

Life Con Pacific Director, Kevin Lucky, said it is their biggest joy to invite fashion designers from American Samoa, Solomon Islands, Australia and New Zealand to participate in the event.

"The purpose itself is to promote and improve the talents of our people especially in fashion designing not only in Samoa but throughout the Pacific as well," he said.

Nine local designers will join the show this year.

New Zealand-based Samoan fashion designer, Tapunuuimanu Visesio Thomsen is one of the four international fashion designers who is joining the show this year.

He said the difference of fashion designing in Samoa and New Zealand is the inspiration he gets from the environment and the marketing between two countries.

"I get all the inspirations I need from the culture and environment that I see around me when I design here in Samoa more than what I see in New Zealand. The only difference is that marketing of my designs in New Zealand has higher demand than here in Samoa because the foreigners in New Zealand love our Samoan designs and fashions so much," he said.

Mr. Thomsen has been a fashion designer for over 40 years and started his career in Samoa. In 1989, he moved to start his business called Vizezio Bridal Couture in New Zealand where he now resides.

The other international fashion designer who's from Sydney, Australia, is Priscilla Yarnelle.  

Local designer Dinah Schmidt Macdonald says designs are part of the Samoan culture.

"What we print on those materials indicates and emphasises our Samoan culture and we're proud every time we see those designs on those materials," she said.

According to Mrs. Macdonald, Life Con Show is a perfect platform for Samoa to showcase their designs and talents.

The fashion show began yesterday and will conclude on Saturday this week.