Our Story

VAHA was born from Vahanoa — the vast ocean.

I chose this name because the ocean is where so much of our story begins. It connects our islands, feeds our families, and carries the way our people create, remember, and pass stories down.

When I think of the Pacific Ocean, I think of everything it offers visually: calm water, wild storms, sunlight on the surface, and life moving underneath. I see it in the colours I’m drawn to, from ocean depth and reef brightness to the warmth of the sun and the changing sky. I see it in the shape of each piece too, in the way fabric falls, ties, gathers, moves, and still holds the body.

VAHA has also been shaped by the women in my life. I grew up around women who made people feel welcome, who carried gentleness and fire, who spoke their minds, and made room for others to do the same. In many ways, VAHA is a reflection of them.

I created VAHA for the modern Pasifika woman who knows the beauty of where she comes from and wears it in a way that feels like her. Whether she is close to home or part of the diaspora, VAHA is for the women shaping what Pasifika fashion looks like now, through colour, movement, and shape.

Every piece is made with intention, from the first sketch to the final seam. I think about how it moves, how it fits, and how it feels on the body, with considered silhouettes, inclusive sizing, and beautiful finishing inside and out.

Thank you for being here. I hope each piece meets you in a moment you’ll want to remember.

‘Ofa lahi atu,
‘Aila xo