Atten-hut: KiRu show draws standing ovation

Nadine Kam photos
Models in KiniZamora designs.

Kini Zamora goes street casual? The designer is best known for extravagant, over-the-top runway presentations since he graduated from Honolulu Community College's Fashion Technology program in 2005, and not even the "Project Runway" audition judges' advice to tone it down could deter him from drama.

But, there comes a time in a young designers' life when it becomes apparent that survival means capturing the attention of the mainstream. It doesn't necessarily mean dumbing down or selling out, but designing to be worn instead of designing to be photographed.

Meanwhile, Waru's Dean Satta had design ambitions without the technical know-how, so the two collaborated, and the standing ovation at the end of the Waru and KiniZamora KiRu fashion show said it all.

Satta sent down a line of detailed, stylish, yet wearable men's collection, in military hues with dashes of yellow and red providing more dramatic colorways. Zamora matched the military inspiration with camouflage-print capes and jumpsuit, olive drab separates, simple tops and sexy oversize sweater tops. I particularly liked some of his shapely cigarette pants. Of course, the drama didn't disappear completely as he demonstrated with a kabuki warrior style finale.

The event took place April 12 at TheVilla at Aloha Tower Marketplace, opening with a show of retro designs created from vintage fabric by Kini's aunt Delilah Patoc, who specializes in custom gowns and mentored the designer while he was growing up

Items from the KiRu show will be available to order in three weeks, and will be available online at KiniZamora.com and waruhawaii.com. Prices range from: KiniZamora $35 to $80 and Waru $20 to $80.

On a side note, in the course of working on this story for print, I was able to work again with Dylan Peckenpaugh, a classmate of Satta's at Kauai High School, who I met in New York when he was working for Dior Homme and I was in town for fashion week. These days, he's happy to have traded his suits for more casual wear, and helping his old friend launch his line. Together, they're definitely going places.


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Kini Zamora, left, and Waru's Dean Satta, right, welcomed celeb designer and fellow HCC alum Ariyaphon Southiphong.

Minnie Han and Ron Kayano, who was a classmate of Kini's at HCC. He says he now designs crepes as an owner of three Aloha Crepes shops, though after seeing the show says he misses fashion "a little bit."

Paul Mitchell stylists.

Jim Ascuncion and Mailene Malana were among the fashion show guests.

The $10 SRO admission got attendees pupu such as kalua pork sandwiches and lomilomi salmon, and below, spiced garlicky soybeans, meatballs and more.