Inspired by Taveuni, The Garden Island of Fiji
Three days had passed since Cyclone Winston tore through Fiji. On the fourth day I received a phone call from a landline somewhere in Taveuni that was being shared by family and neighboring friends trying to get in touch with their relatives and loved ones. Through a broken connection I could hear my brother’s voice from a distance shouting, “It’s all gone Sonam, everything is gone!” That was the first time I’d had any contact with my family in days. My heart sank. I remember sitting on my deck in Denarau thinking how lucky I was to be safe and unaffected by Winston’s devastating winds. Naturally, I started tearing up thinking about what horrors my family had faced along with the 4,000 others displaced that had been hit by the eye of the storm in Taveuni. “It’s all gone, everything is gone” kept repeating in my head, leaving me with a sickening weight that clouded my heart.
Closing my eyes I took myself back to Taveuni months before the storm. Standing at the tip of the volcanic rock that stretched out far enough into the ocean that you could dive into the depths and swim amongst the colorful fish and coral. I remember feeling shivers pass through my body as I followed the lines of light that moved along the ocean floor reflected by the sunlight hitting the waves above me. Time stood still as I would lay face down in the water motionless and meditating to the moving lines.
Taking in a deep breath I shifted my thoughts to our family garden and the surrounding jungles in Taveuni. Remembering waking up in the mornings and walking along the untamed garden with a cup of tea, admiring all the flowers and ferns that would wake up and rise to the golden sun every morning reminding me to appreciate the brand new day. Birds that my brother had trained since birth flew free now and would land on my shoulders, nibble on my ears and tangle themselves into my hair causing me to smile, making my heart feel whole. “It’s gone, everything is gone” rang through my ears. Reality sunk in again and my heart became heavier.
Suppressing the sorrow I shifted my thoughts again and took another deep breath. This time my thoughts traveled to the generosity of the islanders and the time they had taken to share the secrets of their sacred land with my family. I remember the Chief’s son from one of the villages taking my brother and I up Devoux Peak when we were younger so that we could witness first hand the magic of the Tagimoucia flower that only grows in the volcanic craters found in Taveuni Island. The Chief’s son had cut a few strands of Tagimoucia for us to take back to the mainland as souvenirs but by the time we reached the bottom of the volcano the flowers had withered. That was the first time I had realized how important it was for us as a community to maintain, protect and preserve our habitats and our island homes as we are blessed with a heavenly life that many others are left wandering the Earth craving. “It’s gone, everything is gone” once again flashed through my mind but this time defeat was replaced with determination.
In the weeks following Cyclone Winston rescue missions kicked into gear. Whilst I set about collecting donations for the 4,000 displaced in Taveuni, I was offered the opportunity to work with the Bulalicious team.
We discussed how we could dedicate their next collection to bringing awareness to Taveuni and focusing 10% of the profits from their collection towards the rebuild. I was asked if I was interested in designing the prints for the label since I held Taveuni so close to my heart. I would be a fool to say no. I gladly accepted the collaboration and am proud to leave my imprint on this collection.
Through goodwill, hardwork and creativity The Taveuni Collection by Bulalicious is about to flourish throughout Fiji and the world.
Love, Sonam x
