Fashion and Flavours in Port Moresby

10th May 2018

From authentic markets with mouth-watering flavours to shopping malls boasting all the latest haute couture, Port Moresby has no shortage of options when it comes to indulging in a little retail therapy and some serious fashion and food.

The capital of Papua New Guinea has come of age in both the flavour and fashion stakes, embracing its own unique style along with its position as a crossroads of culture and cuisine.

Here’s a quick showcase of what this thriving and increasingly modern city has to offer when it comes to fashion and food.

PNG Fashion

Port Moresby is embracing its own identity as a destination with something to say when it comes to the fashion stakes.

In recent years there’s been a focus on home-grown fashion, textile and design with events like PNG Fashion Week. After its launch in 2016, this celebration of the local fashion industry was last hosted in April this year, showcasing the work of Papua New Guinea’s designers at eight runway shows in three Port Moresby locations under the theme “1000 dresses – 1000 tribes”.

Meanwhile, the PNG fashion industry is also making headway in the commercial market, with local brands like Wontok Clothing opening outlets in the city’s major shopping centre – Vision City Mall.

The launch of Wontok’s shopfront marked a major feat for the home-grown label, which also became the first to fully manufacture the PNG Olympic Team uniforms in 2016.

Port Moresby Fashion Retail

Speaking of major shopping centres, Port Moresby now boasts a few; the largest of which is Vision City Megamall.

Extended in 2016, Vision City features internationally-renowned fashion retailers, and the largest collection of fashion brands in the country, all under the one roof. From haute couture to local brands it’s the place to go for attire.

Port Moresby Food

If you’re looking for authentic Papua New Guinea cuisine, then the markets are the go-to place. Pop up stalls feature a range of fare largely reliant on readily obtainable foods and cooked using traditional methods.

The restaurant scene is more focussed on the international flavours introduced to PNG over its years as the crossroads of Asia, Australia and Polynesia.

Fine fare with a western feel is readily available along with multi-cultural influences like European and Asian cuisine.

And this scene has been booming in recent years. Between 2016 and 2017, over 20 new restaurants opened in the capital, with many centred around the high-profile Harbourside Development and the government precinct of Waigani.

Port Moresby Markets

No visit to Port Moresby is complete without exploring the city’s vibrant markets. The place to obtain artisan wares, artefacts and produce, the markets generally operate on Saturdays and attract tourists and locals alike.

Markets of note include the Ela Beach Craft Market and the Port Moresby Grammar School Market.

When it comes to fresh produce, the Boroko Market is now the major destination as the once infamous Gordon Markets undergo an AUD$1.2 million refurbishment to become a two-storey venue that will house 1500 vendors.

 

About Paga Hill Estate

Paga Hill Estate is a world-class, master-planned estate in the heart of Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea. The waterfront site is the first comprehensively planned multi-use development in Papua New Guinea to be enjoyed by both residents and visitors alike.

The all-inclusive development will include vibrant public spaces and waterfront promenade, luxury hotels, residential apartments, restaurants, retail, commercial space, a Trade, Exhibition & Cultural Centre, restoration of WWII relics, marina precinct and a nearby international cruise liner terminal.