Earth Month inspires upcycled designs from CHIEF, Love at Dawn

Nadine Kam photos
Love at Dawn designer Angela Tomiye, front left, and CHIEF designer Lynn Dagan, front right, posed with their models after their debut fashion show at Honolulu Night Market.

Timed ahead of Earth Day, CHIEF designer Lynn Dagan and Love at Dawn designer Angela Tomiye teamed up to stage their first fashion show at Honolulu Night Market on Saturday, as well as a trunk show of one-of-a-kind vintage and upcycled pieces.

The show served as a reminder that rather than be wasteful, the clever dresser can do his/her part to conserve resources by rescuing pieces.

Both designers share a love of vintage design and textiles, and could never bear the thought of others discarding them at the expense of the planet, as well as the closets of current and future fashion lovers and collectors. They enjoy giving the garments and textiles new life by repurposing them into more contemporary clothing and accessories.


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Dagan said she’d been repurposing garments since she was in the 9th grade, followinge the example set by her mother and grandmother.

Growing up in a Filipino household, she was the dutiful daughter who studied to become an ER nurse to please her mom, and she said she loves her job, but when she goes home to sew, “This is therapy to me.”

She learned to sew by watching YouTube videos, and much of her work now centers on embellishing denim shorts, and creating clutches, wallets, totes, purses and unisex crossbody bags out of unique fabrics and leather.

One of her fans, Charyse Iseri, introduced her to Angela, and Dagan said, “Angela and I really get each other. We seem to have that eye that recognizes vintage or vintage appeal. When I shop in thrift stores and come across textiles that catch my eye, I am already thinking about how I am going to design the piece.”

 Angela Komiye, left, and Lynn Dagan, right, with their intern Kiki Krog.

Among the models was Miss Hawaii USA Emma Wo. She will be competing in the Miss USA 2015 pageant on July 12 in Baton Rouge, La.

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CHIEF designs are currently available at Mori Hawaii by Art & Flea in Ward Warehouse, as well as The Butik at 1067 Kapiolani Boulevard, and Kira Hawaii at Pearlridge Uptown. Tomiye has a studio at Mccully and King sts., above the old Chop Sui House, where she meets with clients by appointment.

More pieces courtesy of the designers:

 

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Nadine Kam is Style Editor and staff restaurant critic at the Honolulu Star-Advertiser; her coverage is in print on Wednesdays and Thursdays. Contact her via email at nkam@staradvertiser.com and follow her on Twitter, Instagram and Rebel Mouse.