By Evelyn Ebrey.
School is in session at OHN Clothing, and designer AKA headmaster, John Tanuvasa, had some preppy fashion lessons to teach an enthusiastic crowd gathered at Te Oro in Glen Innes on Saturday night. It was a fitting setting for the second solo show from the talented designer which showcased his considerable skills and eye for modern design.
Tanuvasa is a man with a vision, and he went all out in executing it for this artfully constructed show full of playful moments, which brought the drama and flirtation of high school to the runway in an entertaining way. The Red Flags High class of 2024 was full of misfits, friends, cool kids, beauty queens and of course, a reigning head boy and head girl, all clothed in on-theme variations of plaid.
As opposed to a traditional runway show where the models simply walk back and forth, this group of attractive models strutted, posed and prowled around the classroom set, seductively toying with the audience while showcasing OHN Clothing’s latest collection. They also playfully interacted with each other creating the feeling of classmates let loose without the watchful eye of a teacher.
The theme of the collection and resulting show was ‘the art of seduction’, with Tanuvasa also inspired by the concept of a red flag and how it used to be a silly thing before it turned serious on social media. What better setting than the melodrama of a high school to play with these ideas and create a world where the characters the designer envisioned for his collection would exist in.
The collection itself showed a clear progression for OHN Clothing, with a honing of Tanuvasa’s construction and tailoring skills making for a deconstructed take on scholarly style that was appealing and considered. Pleating was in abundance on charming layered skirts paired with midriff-grazing cropped shirting and boxy jackets. Relaxed fit trousers teamed with well cut blazers and shirts created a contemporary take on a timeless look, blurring the lines between casual and formal wear. Voluminous capes, which the designer has experimented with in previous collections, upped the drama factor of the range.
Overall, the clothes were great, cleverly detailed and very wearable. This is a collection that will appeal to a range of ages and aesthetics. Even more so because it is truly inclusive of a range of body sizes, which is something Tanuvasa has championed since the beginning of his label.
Everything about this collection and the show itself was carefully considered to bring Red Flags High to life in a delightful way. From the old school beats that kept the crowd happy to the gorgeous beauty looks with retro inspired touches, Tanuvasa did an impeccable job of bringing his vision to the runway and even styled it all himself. None of this is easy as a solo business owner either, but the high production values showed his impressive commitment and eye for detail that made the show a triumphant success.
Having previously shown as part of Pacific Fusion Fashion Show since 2020, including at New Zealand Fashion Week as part of the PFFS showcase in 2023, and now with his second solo showing under his belt, Tanuvasa is on track for great things in future. In the meantime, this stellar collection is available via DM on Instagram - @ohn.clothing.
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Images courtesy of Ryan Patrick Photography.
