Radio New Zealand - Te Reo Irirangi o Aotearoa

Duchess’s dress draws enquiries from around the world for Cook Islands designer

Posted at 07:58 on 19 September, 2012 UTC

People from all over the world have been bombarding the Cook Island designer, TAV Pacific, wanting to buy the dress the Duchess of Cambridge, Catherine, wore on her royal visit to Solomon Islands.

A Solomon Islands delegation was in the Cook Islands, for the Pacific Islands Forum, and had wanted to purchase two dresses for the girls who would present Catherine with flowers on her arrival.

TAV owner Ellena Tavioni, declined payment for the dresses, and also included four dresses for Catherine and shirts for her husband, Prince William as a gift for the royal couple.

Ellena’s daughter, Sheena, says they were in shock when they found out Kate was wearing one of their designs.

“My Mum called me up and she said, you won’t believe, and she said Kate is wearing our dress and Prince William is wearing our shirt. I said ’what!’ I googled it and saw the pictures, it’s just amazing. We’re getting orders from Spain, Germany, India, Ireland, not only the Kate dress, but other dresses as well, they’ve seen our styles now.”

Sheena Tavioni says staff are working overtime in Rarotonga to keep up with the orders of what they have now dubbed ’the Kate dress.’