Stepping onto the signature Genesis runway at APEC Haus in Port Moresby, multicultural Pacific designer Mareva Josephine Bower delivered a deeply personal collection that bridged Samoan heritage, Australian upbringing, Christian faith, and a lifelong devotion to craft.

Fresh from her debut at Paradise Runway in Brisbane, Mareva brought a radical shift in form to the PNG Fashion Week 2026 showcase on Saturday.

Grounded in Australian desert tones, deep reds, burnt oranges, ochre yellows, earthy browns, and muted greens, the collection channeled the relaxed confidence of 1990s streetwear and the multicultural communities that shaped her youth.

Through deconstruction, reconstruction, and tactical reconnection of garments, Mareva moved beyond her traditionally restrained style into a dramatic, playful expression of freedom and the courage to stand apart.

Born in Auckland, New Zealand, and raised in Australia from age two as the youngest of eight, Mareva’s creative education began at home.

Alongside her mother, Pauline Vandermade of Samoan, Dutch, and Tongan heritage, alongside pastor-leader roles and Samoan father Josephi, Mareva tracked everyday church attire, bridal wear, school formals, and White Sunday outfits across Sydney fabric houses.

Those formative years anchored a core truth: clothing communicates dignity, care, and belonging.

Her mother’s blueprint of faith, generosity, and discipline continues to guide Marèva, the label carrying her distinctive first name.

Married to Maciu Abraham Bower (Fijian and Niuean heritage) and mother of four (plus two grandchildren), Mareva designs through the lens of Fa’a Samoa; family, humility, and service.

Future collections look toward ancestral Samoan motifs and proverbs, celebrating a designer who finds her truest creative calm near the ocean.

“I would like the world to know that I am different and I embrace it,” Mareva said. “I would not have it any other way.”

Mareva described her selection for PNG Fashion Week 2026 as an opportunity of a lifetime and a moment her family would never forget.

“PNG Fashion Week and being selected means so much to us and I am truly humbled that I got to participate in it.”

Beyond the runway, Mareva hoped to facilitate styling workshops, share practical knowledge about clothing, and advocate for neurodiversity through fashion.

Her long-term vision was to build a global brand celebrating Pacific identity while creating space for people to feel represented, understood, and free.

“I design because it makes me feel aligned, connected and alive.”

Far from a standalone milestone, her PNG Fashion Week debut marks a springboard toward collaborative global workshops, neurodiversity advocacy through fashion, and future showcases spanning Europe, Dubai, and the Middle East.

As her final model cleared the Genesis runway, Mareva left Port Moresby with a clear challenge to audiences: be bold, take risks, and embrace their individuality.