Sandhya Garg visits Hawaii museum's textile collection

Honolulu Museum of Art photo
Honolulu Museum of Art textile curator Sara Oka gave “Project Runway” designer Sandhy Garg a tour of the museum’s textile collections.

“Project Runway’s” Sandhya Garg, among Kini Zamora’s competition during Season 13, was in Honolulu with her family over the Christmas holiday and dropped in to Doris Duke’s Shangri La and the Honolulu Museum of Arts.

At the Honolulu Museum of Art, she was able to view the textile collections with textile curator Sara Oka. Here’s a link to the museum’s post about their meeting and shared love of the tactile art form: http://bit.ly/1zutIvN

The encounter seems to have left an open door for the possibility of future collaboration and sharing of resources, which would be of mutual benefit for the designer and Hawaii.

Beauty Spot: M.A.C unveils Heirloom Mix

Nadine Kam photos
M.A.C cosmetics introduced its Holiday “Heirloom Mix” collection during an event that took place at Ala Moana Center’s Centerstage Dec. 5 and 6.

M.A.C Cosmetics presented a dazzling mix of performance and makeup artistry during an event that took place Dec. 5 and 6 at Ala Moana Center.

The M.A.C Pro Ala Moana team was there with visiting Director of Makeup Artistry Gregory Arlt, who shared some of his tips for holiday radiance.

The Heirloom Mix Collection is all about sophisticated hues for face, eyes, nails and lips, with a touch of sparkle and glitter. And while Arlt said, “I love glitter,” he added, “It doesn’t have to be extreme to be effective.”


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A touch of sparkling lip gloss over dramatic red lipstick is a perfect holiday look that can be worn by anyone, and he called a sensual red lipstick “the little black dress of makeup. It looks beautiful and men love it.”

Even so, as he travels from coast to coast, he finds many women shy away from such a bold statement.

“If you’re afraid of red, start with something lighter, like a stain or sheer red lipgloss.”

Most of all, he said, don’t be afraid to try new looks and trends as they emerge. “Just remember it’s makeup; it comes off.”

Eric Faamusili photos / For M.A.C Cosmetics
Dancers wore color from the Heirloom Mix collection during their performances throughout the event.

An overview of the stage setup and throng that gathered for the spectacle.

The vision.

A sampling of some of the glittering products from the collection:

 Quite literally, Heirloom Mix glitter, in “Amethyst,” $23.

Heirloom Mix pressed powder highlighter in “Victorian Plum,” $21.

Heirloom Mix Cremesheen Glass lipgloss in “Courting Chic,” $22.


To view more from the collection, visit http://www.maccosmetics.com.

Ferragamo Buckle Collection debuts in Waikiki

Salvatore Ferragamo courtesy photo

Salvatore Ferragamo introduced its new Buckle Collection of eight watches and sunglasses incorporating the company’s iconic buckle design Friday at the Royal Hawaiian Center store.

The celebrated shoemaker often incorporated buckles into his designs, and the stylized rounded buckles, which often took the shape of Ferragamo’s trademark Gancino hook, quickly became associated with the brand, appearing on purses, belts and other accessories.

To celebrate the new arrivals, those who purchase any timepiece ($1,395) or pair of sunglasses ($345) from the Buckle Collection at the Royal Hawaiian Center or Ala Moana Center boutiques through Jan. 5 will receive a complimentary monogram engraving.

For more information, call 971-4267.

Nadine Kam photos
Eyewear from Salvatore Ferragamo’s new Buckle Collection. In addition to the white and black eye frames shown, there are light and dark tortoise versions.

You can see the buckle design in the face of the watches, paired with leather wristbands in a mix of classic and fun colors.

During an event to welcome the new arrivals, I also enjoyed seeing some of the new items for spring including Audrey flats and handbags in periwinkle, pretty pinks and grownup beige pink.

I love a backpack for getting around the hassle- and hands-free way, this one with another of Ferragamo's signatures, the bow.

Time traveling with Michal Negrin jewelry

Dennis Oda photo
Katrina Aguirre modeled a Michal Negrin evening dress and jewelry for my print story, and caught the eye of a buyer who ended up buying the $2,195 dress off her back. The handmade lace and Swarovski crystal necklace is $980, and matching bracelet is $492.

Among the new stores that have opened recently at Ala Moana Center is Michal Negrin Hawaii, offering a line of jewelry and apparel created by the Israeli designer.

I had passed by the store a couple of times, but was too busy too go in, and at first glance, it didn’t seem like a store that suits my style. In its florid, rococo style, it seemed out of place in this minimalist era.

On closer inspection, I found much to like in this place that celebrates the romance of past eras, even if shoppers find the jewelry hard to pigeonhole. “They always ask, ‘Is it French, is it Italian?’ said shop owner Maya Ben-Dor. “It’s a little Victorian, a little Edwardian, a little 1920s, and even 1960s. It’s very fusion.”

Add elements of the Belle Epoque and Art Nouveau, and it all comes together in one ornamental whole. Stepping into the shop has the feel of entering a Victorian paper-doll house, with its sepia colors, chandelier and floral decor.

Aguirre wears a Michal Negrin sheer Lycra “chiffon” bolero over her own LBD, with Michal Negrin necklace ($197), earrings ($59), watch ($425), and ring ($59).

Nadine Kam photos
A selection of Victorian- and Edwardian-inspired necklaces.

Negrin got her start in 1988, selling her crystal-embellished lace jewelry in an open-air market in Tel Aviv. She had grown up on an Israeli kibbutz, a collective community based on agriculture and stressing group conformity, where,
“she had to dress plainly. Everybody dressed the same and there was no jewelry, so this is sort of her reaction to that,” Ben-Dor said of the glittering array surrounding her.

Today, there are more than 65 Michal Negrin stores around the world, with U.S. locations in New York, Boston and Los Angeles. According to Ben-Dor, the company is the largest user of Swarovski crystals, behind Swarovski itself.

The papery popup-book character of the displays give a sense of being whisked into a fairytale or past world.

A silhouette form dressed in Michal Negrin jewelry.

Pieces in the store start at $25 for a simple pair of earrings, while lace necklaces handmade in Israel can fetch up to $980. Each piece is signed and carries a lifetime warranty.

Similarly, clothing here is individually printed with floral and lace designs, and cut individually, making each piece unique. Although they appear dressy, many of the pieces are made from a Lycra “chiffon” that’s comfortable and travels well.

“If you have a lot of sparkling people on your gift list, there’s something to suit all ages and all demographics,” Ben-Dor said.

Coco also graces some of Michal Negrin’s casual tops and dresses.

Michal Negrin got her start creating embellished lace jewelry like this one and the more ornate piece below, both available in the Hawaii store.

The designer continues to experiment with a range of materials, such as the metal mesh and fabric rosettes that form this necklace, $221.

Gift items available at the shop include purse holders (about $83) and mirrored compacts like this one ($97).

Lockets and hidden watches.

Art + Flea expands with MORI, at Ward Warehouse

Nadine Kam photos
Artist Remi Mead was painting on the spot at the grand opening of MORI by Art + Flea.

After four years of growth, monthly nomadic urban market Art + Flea has expanded to include a permanent retail/workshop/experimental space at Ward Village’s Ward Warehouse.

Nov. 29, also Small Business Saturday, was grand opening day for the boutique, featuring gifts, apparel, art and other handmade conversation pieces created by local creatives.

Art + Flea and MORI visionary Aly Ishikuni, second from left, with designer Matt Bruening, left, Momoko Metzger and Desmond Centro, who dropped by to support the new endeavor.

Art + Flea co-founder and MORI creator Aly Ishikuni considers the space the next step in the evolution of the unique shopping experience. The space currently highlights the work of Pow Pow, Remi Mead, Topia, Soriya Swim, Yireh, Claymore Minds, Fancy Action, Secret Record Store, Adventure Fun Club, Pixel Papel, Luna Amante, Honhi Hawaii, and Mistprint, along with art installations by Matt Honda, Kamran Samimi, and Chusak Majarone.

Artists and vendors will be rotated in and out to offer more opportunity to Art + Flea members. Ishikuni also envisions it as a social space where people will be able to come together for performances, food events and workshops. Keep up to date at www.artandflea.com
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MORI by Art + Flea is in Ward Warehouse, near TheFaceShop. Hours are 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Mondays to Saturdays, and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sundays.

The MORI by Art + Flea interior.

Made in Hawaii.

Art installations shared the space with local, handcrafted retail merchandise.

Jewelry by Honhi Hawaii’s Melyssa Davan-Takenouchi kept under glass at MORI by Art + Flea.

Work by Fancy Action. Sorry, I couldn’t resist strategically positioning the spot of glare that is not actually part of the artwork.

Sweet bites were also a part of the grand opening, and Ishikuni aims to introduce new food items and purveyors from time to time.

One section devoted to Remi Mead’s work.

tokidoki X LeSportsac show aloha with 'Dolcezza'

LeSportsac photo
Tokidoki founder and creative director Simone Legno’s love letter to Hawaii comes in the form of his LeSportsace collaboration print, Dolcezza, hailing the 50th state’s “honey girls” and cultural icons.

Tokidoki founder and creative director Simone Legno has been coming to Hawaii for seven years while introducing his collaborations with LeSportsac, and he’s taken notes along the way.

Now his doodles have taken permanent shape in the form of his latest collaboration, Dolcezza, with the handbag brand. In Legno’s native Italian, “dolcezza” means “sweetness and honey.”

His love letter to the aloha spirit has resulted in a print full of “honey girls” practicing the hula, playing with dolphins and whales, and greeting other hibiscus- and lei-wearing denizens of the tokidoki universe, including Palette, a maraca-wielding bear; and the shave-ice-loving Unicorno.

Dolcezza is available in 15 styles, all featuring a hot-pink lining and Dolcezza-printed Palette charm.

The collection is exclusive to LeSportsac Hawaii stores at Ala Moana Center, Royal Hawaiian Center, Waikiki Shopping Plaza, Hilton Hawaiian Village and Hyatt Regency Waikiki, and at The Plaza on Guam.


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Fishcake Gallery turned runway for Fashion@hfxishcake

Travis K. Okimoto photo
Before their final walk down the runway, models for Kaypee Soh’s graphic print designs created a tableau in a space in the back of Fishcake Gallery usually reserved for meetings and presentations.

Fishcake’s retail floor became the runway for seven designers and brands on Nov. 30, during Fashion@hfxishcake, presented by the gallery in collaboration with the Hawaii Fashion Exchange.

Featured were designs by Andy South’s Ari South, M33Ms, Rumi Murakami, Language of the Birds, Kaypee Soh, Playback, and Gillia.

I was about five minutes too late to catch the first show, with the colorful prints of Kaypee Soh. Luckily, photographer Travis Okimoto was able to share one of his photos with me to give you an idea of the designer’s collection.

There was about a 15-minute wait in between shows, allowing guests to browse and shop the various collections.

I did a lot of shopping, but always ventured back after the shows after seeing how other pieces moved and fit on the body. I dropped so much $$$ that night, and saw a lot of other people shopping, proving that fashion shows work!

Nadine Kam photo
Carrie Shuler models one of Gillia’s soft floral dresses during Fashion@hfxishcake.

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Hermès Le Bain pops up at T Galleria Hawaii

T Galleria welcomed media Dec. 10 for the launch of the exclusive
Hermès “Le Bain” Pop-Up in its beauty department.

Le Bain marks Hermès’ foray into new territory as the company expands its focus from the individual into the home and the art of living through fragrance for the bath, body and living spaces.

In town for the occasion was Cyri Chan, one of the company’s fragrance specialists, from Hong Kong.

Hermès courtesy photo

Splish, splash, bath time just got more elegant with Hermès.


At the heart of Hermès bath collection are the notes of the perfumes in the luxury house’s Colognes and Garden Perfumes collection. The scents can
now be layered via a products ranging from creamy bubble bath and revitalising shampoo, to a skin-hydrating balm, toning gel, soothing body milk and gentle soap.

According to Chan, one of the aims of the collection is to evoke the daily pleasure of bath ritual throughout the day.

Nadine Kam photos
Cyri Chan introduces the Hermès Le Bain popup at T Galleria Hawaii.

The scent of Hermès colognes now grace a full line of Le Bain bath and home fragrance products.

The popup comes at a great time, with some beautiful sets packaged for holiday gift-giving, such as a set of four miniature perfumes for $63: Jour d’Hermès, Eau Claire des Merveilles, Un Jardin sur le Nil and Voyage d’Hermès.

A boxed collection of three Colognes & Parfums Jardin soaps is $60. There is also a Hawaii exclusive set, the Garden Perfume Collection, comprising four 15 ml eau de toilette sprays, two each of Hermès most popular fragrances, the unisex Un Jardin sur le Nil and Un Jardin sur le Toit, the former evoking a sensory stroll along the Mediterannean coast, and the latter inspired by a garden in the heart of Paris.

The evolution of Le Bain marks a continuation of Hermès history of craftsmanship. The house started by Thierry Hermès in 1837 was established as a harness workshop dedicated to provide high-quality leather harness and bridles for European noblemen.

The artisan tradition has continued into the 21st century, applied to all aspects of the Hermès lifestyle, from the creation of silk scarves, handbags and jewelry, to perfumes that were first launched in 1951.

The Hermès “Le Bain” pop-up will be open through Feb. 28, 2015. More exciting beauty popups are set to arrive at T Galleria throughout the year, so keep your eye on that space! Of course with the company’s duty-free roots, you won’t pay taxes on your purchases.
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T Galleria Hawaii is at 330 Royal Hawaiian Ave. Look for the Hermès Le Bain popup on Level 2.

Hermès Eau Claire des Merveilles is a woody-amber fragrance that is said to hold the spirit of wood and memory of oceans.

Hermès Un Jardin Hawaii exclusive collection.

Shoppers can also create custom gift boxes such as this one, filled with Un Jardin Sur Le Toit and Sur Le Nil products.

People are clamoring for these soaps around the globe, so according to Chan, T Galleria is fortunate to be able to stock these.

Tables were set with flowers in Hermès orange.