The kaupapa (theme or philosophy) of the 25th Annual IFFTI conference is Ara Honohono / Connecting Pathways. Te Ara is a Māori word that means path or route but can also refer to a line of traditional Māori weaving. Honohono means to link, to join, to splice, to add and to join together. Kaupapa also refers to the main body of a kākahu (traditional Māori cloak).
Ara Honohono / Connecting Pathways is a call to fashion researchers, practitioners, and educators to reflect on connections, patterns, pathways and threads that bind us to our past and link us to our future, to culture, to people, to place, to practice.
Mātauraka Māori (Māori knowledge and wisdom) is central to the conference theme and Māori tikaka and kawa (Māori protocols and local knowledge) will be integrated into conference activities.
We acknowledge the guidance and protection of local Māori - Kāi Tahu, Kāti Māmoe, Waitaha - who are mana whenua, meaning they have the mana (authority) over the land (whenua). Kai Tahu dialect is used throughout.
