A new series on Māori Television wants to show that fashion can be accessible for everyone. 

Lance Savali is standing in The Warehouse, showing Aotearoa his undies. He’s just kicked off a fashion challenge for Rags Are Riches, a new series on Māori Television’s digital platform Māori+ that sees celebrities shop a new look on a budget. Produced by comedian Joe Daymond, Rags Are Riches wants to show viewers how to find affordable alternatives to high fashion. Or in Lance Savali’s case, high fashion undies.

In each of the show’s six 15-minute episodes, Rags Are Riches stylists Courtney Dawson and Randy Sjafrie are challenged to create an outfit for a celebrity guest in only a few minutes and with a budget of around $100. While other fashion makeover shows have seemingly unlimited time and money to spend, Rags Are Riches keeps it low key and low budget, proving you don’t have to spend a lot of cash to create a distinctive look.

Episode one sees Courtney and Randy team up with dancer Lance and comedian Chris Parker, who have 30 minutes and $150 to spend in The Warehouse. It’s an erratic journey around the store, and no garment is safe. “What’s in, what’s cool?” Chris ponders next to a rack of white singlets. “Do you have undies on?” Randy asks Lance, after Lance sprints past the lingerie section to play with a basketball. Even in The Warehouse, Lance Savali dances to the beat of his own drum.

The chaotic energy of the first episode is part of the Rags Are Riches charm. As the clock ticks down, Lance opts for a hi-vis vest, while Chris rocks a necklace chosen from the kid’s accessories. There are no rules here. I grew up watching stylists Trinny and Susannah on TV, who stuck to fashion rules like they were the velcro on Lance’s hi-vis vest. We never saw Trinny and/or Susannah chuck on some neon orange with a lovely reflective strip, and their shows were all the poorer for it.

If anyone can make hi-vis fashion, it’s Lance Savali. “I give everyone a month and they’ll all be wearing hi-vis vests,” Lance says, and I believe him. “You could chuck him in a suitcase and he’d still look mean,” Randy agrees.

But Rags to Riches wants us to embrace our inner hi-vis animals. There’s a relaxed, easy chemistry between hosts Randy and Courtney, as they whip up outfits for radio presenter Tegan Yorwarth in Save Mart, Breakfast host Matty McLean in Titirangi’s Re:Generate Markets, and actor Tammy Davis, who lays down his own challenge in Recycle Boutique. They make a bag with VNTGVAMP, a collective specialising in clothing and textile upcycling, and visit EFFN Clothing, where they repurpose an old pair of jeans.

They’re literally turning rags into riches, and it’s refreshing to watch a show that acknowledges we can’t all afford to drop huge chunks of money on clothes, or that people want to shop more sustainably. Rags Are Riches doesn’t want us to overthink things, and it’s not about following the latest trend. It’s about discovering a sense of style on a budget, working with what you have, and feeling confident in what you wear, regardless of the price.

Granted, some outfits are more successful than others, but as Chris Parker said, “true fashion is beyond words”. By the end, the success of the final outfit is almost not the point. Courtney and Randy have taken their guests beyond their style comfort zone by dressing them in a variety of pieces, in the hope of inspiring viewers with the confidence to try on high-fashion alternatives the next time they go shopping.

Rags Are Riches is a wee gem of a show. It’s as no-frills as the budgets in the challenges, but that’s part of its feel-good charm. It’s about celebrating a bargain, and it wants everyone to enjoy the way clothes can make you feel. Fashion should be accessible, style can come cheap, and hi-vis is in, mates. Lance Savali said so.

Rags Are Riches is available on Māori+.

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