Pacific Sisters
Four Waistcoats (detail)
Mixed media
1998
Photography by Julia Brooke White

Pacific Sisters are a collective of multi-media artists formed in 1992. Through working together on fashion orientated projects they have created a network of urban Pacific artists, designers, musicians and performers who promote Pacific pride in Aotearoa.

These waistcoats are part of the official Pacific Sisters uniform. The design reflects our backbone, heart and spirit. The uniformity reinforces the collective strength of the group and the individual style of each sister is celebarted by their interpretation of the waistcoat design.

Pacific Sisters stand side by side in Turangawaewae. Together we acknowledge our past and our present as we confront the future.

Pieces have been created by Suzanne Tamaki, Rosanna Raymond, Ani O'Neill, Sophia Tekela-Smith and Alicia Courtney.

Pacific Sisters:

Suzanne Tamaki
Tuhoe, Te Arawa, Ngati Maniapoto and Tauiwi

Rosanna Raymond
Samoa, Tuvalu, Irish, French, Ngati-Awa

Ani O'Neill
Rarotonga, New Zealand-Aotearoa

Sophia Tekela-Smith
Rotuma, Fatuna, Uvea and Scots