Style guru shows his best picks at exhibit

FASHIONABLE MAN: Visesio Louis Thomsen is exhibiting a collection of his award-winning dresses.

One of Manukau's most celebrated fashion designers is holding his first exhibition.
Visesio Louis Thomsen says the exhibition's a collection of his "favourite pieces" and winning garments from various fashion shows.
Last year he won the eveningwear section at Westfield Style Pasifika and the Manukau Designer Award at Villa Maria Cult-Couture.
In 2008 he won the Villa Maria Cult-Couture Premier Award and the Matrimonial Bliss category.
In fact he has won an award at every Villa Maria Cult-Couture event since he graduated with his AUT University design degree in 2003.
Mr Thomsen designs, cuts and sews each garment, mixing traditional and modern processes and materials, including tapa, fine mat, silks and satins.
"I'm inspired by Samoan culture and the colourful flowers of the South Pacific and the white sandy beaches," he says.
Ideas for his creations come to him all the time, he says.
"Sometimes I have a dream about a garment – I wake up and I start sketching."
His love affair with fashion started when he was younger and watched and helped his mother sew.
He chose it as a career because "I love designing clothes and making people beautiful".
Working out of the garage in his Manurewa home, Mr Thomsen specialises in making dresses, particularly for weddings.
He has a long list of clients especially from the Samoan community.
Mangere Community Arts Outreach Service asked him if he could exhibit there because they liked his work.
Although he's nervous about the exhibition, Mr Thomsen says he's looking forward to "showing my talents to the community".
"Most people have heard about me but don't know what I'm doing."
Visesio Louis Thomsen's exhibition is on at the Mangere Community Arts Outreach Service in the Mangere town centre until April 3.