'A' is for Avel and advocacy at Avel Bacudio fashion show

Nadine Kam photos
Models in neoprene swimwear line up before the start of Avel Bacudio's fashion show at the Hilton Hawaiian Village and Resort.

"Triple Threat Advocacy" is not the frilly sort of name we expect from a fashion show, but designer Avel Bacudio's heart was in the right place as he staged a showing of swimwear, couture and Fall 2017 ready-to-wear designs in support of the Northern Luzon School for the Visually Impaired.

The nonprofit organization in his home country of the Philippines provides board, lodging, educational services and livelihood training and equal opportunities for visually impaired students to promote independence and meaningful lives. The school relies mostly on donations for support.

Designer Avel Bacudio shows one of his gowns before the start of his fashion show.

The event presented by Magnum Model and Talent Productions and sponsored by Philippine Airlines, took place Sept. 11 in the Hilton Hawaiian Village and Resort's Coral Ballroom. Audience members were treated to intimate peformances by recording artist Billy Crawford and Philippines Prince of R&B and Jay R Sillona, who both posed for selfies with fans in the midst of performances.


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Among the models and opening the show was 2012 Miss Universe 1st Runner-Up Janine Mari Tugonon. She is in the running to become one of the Top 12 of 2017 Nu Muses. To vote for her, visit numus.es/janine. Anyone is welcome to cast one vote per day through 5 p.m. PST, Sept. 17.

Kekoa Lyons wears one of Bacudio's minimalist neoprene sweaters, sales of which will help support visually impaired children in the Philippines. Adult sizes run $75, children's sweaters run $55 at aveldesigns.com.

The close of his show brought out keiki and adult models in neoprene, digital-print sweaters emblazoned with "A"s and other letters of the alphabet, the "A" representing both Avel and advocacy for the visually impaired students.

The charity is close to his heart because of his own brush with blindness a decade ago when he suffered from retinal detachment that could have ended his career.

Bacudio was raised in Bicol, in Southern Luzon, better known for being home to one of the smallest freshwater fish in the world, the dwarf pygmy goby, than fashion. He rose to present his work on international stages after being chosen to participate in a student fashion competition in Paris. Bacudio earned the title of "Asia's Most Influential Designer during Mercedes-Benz Stylo Asia Fashion Week 2014 in Kuala Lumpur, beating 24 other designers from 11 countries throughout Asia. Shoe designer Jimmy Choo is one of his champions, and is working to bring Bacudio's work to the attention of fashion enthusiasts in the West.

Trio of designers take stage at 47th Hui Makaala fashion show

Nadine Kam photos
Kaypee Soh presented the finale collection during the Hui Makaala 47th annual fashion show.

The Okinawan scholarship organization, Hui Makaala, presented its 47th fashion show July 24 at the Hilton Hawaiian Village, featuring Dolkii, Boutique Sharon, and Kaypee Soh.

First to present was Dolkii, created by sisters Shaiyanne Dar and Yasmin Dar Fasi. What started as Shaiyanne's blog in 2013, turned into an online boutique last year, and this season, the sisters created their first original designs, a dress and harem pant-inspired romper that reflect the casual, chic, boho essence of Dolkii.

Next up were designs from Joe Jeong's Boutique Sharon, reflecting the colorful mixed cultural heritage of Hawaii through fashion by Harari, local designer Anne Namba, Hawaiian artists and Italian clothiers.

Miss Hawaii 2016 Allison Chu walked the runway for all three segments. Here, she's pictured in an ensemble from Boutique Sharon. She also proved to be a quick-change artist, singing in between segments and rushing backstage to get into garments to open the shows.


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Kaypee Soh presented the finale show inspired by Hawaii's rainbows and flora. Soh, who grew up in Malaysia, attended school in London, and started his career as a graphic designer. After moving to Hawaii in 2004, he found a niche in interiors, but his love of textiles and prints led to a natural evolution from wardrobing the home to outfitting the body. This spring-summer collection marks his first full collection, yet anyone seeing his work for the first time would think he's been working in fashion for years.

A day ahead of the show, I worried that pending tropical storm Darby might cause its cancellation. The day was humid, but the downpour in Honolulu waited until the evening. A good thing because this is the organization's major fund-raiser for scholarships, that in 2016 will go to:

* Stephanie Adaniya: Iolani School to Brown University; Biology
* Reese Asato: Iolani School to University of Purdue; Mechanical Engineering
* Dane Itomura: Punahou School to UC San Diego; Biology
* Kassie Odo: Pearl City High to Oregon State; Bio-engineering
* Shayna Pak: McKinley High to University of Hawaii at Manoa; Music
* Copeland Talkington: Kamaile Academy to UHM; Computer Science
* Marisa Tsuhako: Waiakea High to UHM; Master of Education
* Summer Tsukenjo: Sacred Hearts Academy to Kapiolani Community College; Education
* Jolyn Yoneshige: Castle High to Hawaii Pacific University; Education

Congratulations to all the scholarship recipients and all who worked hard to make sure the show when on in spite of the uncertain weather.

Allison Chu in one of Dolkii's original romper designs.

A stylized "rainbow" by Kaypee Soh.

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

Kauai hosts fashionable weekend

Photos by Patrick Kelley Worldwide Photography
Designer Sha Ali Ahmad, co-founder of Kaua'i Fashion Weekend, takes a bow following his Saturday runway presentation. At right, Maytee Martinez, from "House of DVF" was one of his models.

In Honolulu, we tend to look at our city of a million as the center of everything creative in Hawaii, from food to fashion. But, our neighbor islands no longer want to be ignored. There is amazing culinary work being done on Maui, and in distant Kauai, a nascent fashion scene is no longer waiting for Honolulu to come calling, when it's perfectly capable of attracting attention at home.

The 4th Annual Kaua‘i Fashion Weekend took place May 7, featuring Kauai designers' newest island-inspired evening couture, resort, casual and beach wear collections.

Co-founded by international fashion designer Sha Ali Ahmad of India, and Marynel Valenzuela, president of Inkspot Printing on Kauai, the red-carpet event drew more than 400 residents and visitors to the Kaua‘i Marriott Resort & Beach Club's Grand Ballroom.

Above and below, two more of Sha Ali Ahmad's designs.

Ahmad, who has created fashions worn by celebrities from Hollywood to Bollywood, showed his latest collection, AC 16, which previously debuted at fashion shows in Miami and California. He calls Kauai his home away from home, said he was inspired to help raise the island’s profile in fashion design internationally.

“I want to make Kaua‘i a destination for fashion lovers everywhere. The designers here have huge potential because of the diverse culture. Since my first visit, the people, culture, hospitality and beauty of the island have inspired me.”

Among the models was Maytee Martinez, an international model, designer and star of the E! cable network series, "House of DVF."

Swim and resort styles, below, dominated the Kauai collections.

Also featured were homegrown designers Chanterelle Chantara of Chez Chanterelle, Taryn Rodighiero of KaiKini Bikinis, Karla Bollmann of Karlota’s Tropical Clothing, and Wilma Bumanglag of Wilma’s Top Secret.

Sue Kanoho, executive director of the Kaua‘i Visitors Bureau, hopes this focus on fashion will encourage more island residents to share their creativity.

“When people think of Kaua‘i, fashion isn’t always top of mind. There are some beautiful styles being designed by island residents that people anywhere in the world would enjoy wearing. Promoting Kauai’s fashion design is a beautiful way to diversify our island’s economy and show that Kauai should be known for more than sun and surf.”

More informatiion: facebook.com/kauaifashionweekend

Video link: vimeo.com/165754508

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

Kaypee Soh debuts SS2016 'Over the Rainbow' collection

Nadine Kam photos
Designer Kaypee Soh posed with one of his models, Tessa Goodwin, after the presentation of his Spring Summer 2016 “Over the Rainbow” collection. Tessa is wearing a denim spring jacket with multi-orchid flare, side-slit skirt.

BY NADINE KAM

Storm clouds loomed but in spite of a few droplets that fell before the start of Kaypee Soh’s Spring/Summer 2016 fashion show, the water flow stopped just before guests took their seats at the Laniakea YWCA on Richards Street. If it had been daylight, we might even have seen a rainbow arc across the sky, the inspiration for Soh’s “Over the Rainbow” ready-to-wear collection.

The designer was taken by the beauty of a double rainbow during one of his early evening walks along Ala Moana Beach. He offered up a small sampling of 10 ensembles during Honolulu Fashion Week last month, and those in the audience then were eager to see the full 37-piece collection.

Some of the models sported plastic-bill color visors during the show, which cast their rainbow hues onto their faces when they stepped under lights.

Emma Wo in Soh's multi-bloom box-pleat dress.

In his program notes for the event, he wrote: “I noticed how the colors in the rainbow appeared to be reflecting off the water and the plants around me. It was something I hadn’t seen or noticed before. I tired to create this same feeling by using varying tones of color on color in the fabrics I designed for this collection.”

He referenced chic, modern details from the 1960s through early 1970s to come up with his take on relaxed Pacific style encompassing dresses, accessories, separates, tees, vegan leather handbags, and men’s shirts, shorts and pants.

The show opened with a performance of “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” by kumu hula Robert Cazimero’s Halau Na Kamalei O Lililehua, with the men wearing Soh’s original hibiscus chambray wrap.

The setting added to the evening’s enchantment, and the site was chosen in part to honor its designer Julia Morgan. In a show of support for all women, the designer will be making a contribution to the YWCA.

Isabella Williams wears Soh’s Lilikoi Gypsy dress, already popular after its debut at Honolulu Fashion Week. One person from Dior came specifically to see this dress.

Allyson McIntyre wears Soh's yellow Orchid short puff-sleeve blouse with high-low maxi skirt.

Kasie Clark in Soh’s Indigo Bloom side-slit gown. Such beautiful flow when this moves.

Sydney Boder in in Soh's colorful twist on palaka. This is his version of a multi-color palaka maxi dress.

Kaitlyn Hitsman in Soh’s Midnight Orchid ruffle-pleat shirt paired with a mid-length skirt. I love the way the ruffle pleat fluttered when she walked. I love movement in clothing when people walk down the street. It’s so magical.

Men’s looks were also featured.
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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.

Honolulu Fashion Week 2015: 'Get Out!'

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Keke Lindgard opened and closed the “Get Out!” fashion show during Honolulu Fashion Week 2015, in a Bliss Lau x Meleana Estes lei dress.

BY NADINE KAM

The “Get Out!” show of casual wear by local designers that took place Nov. 21 during Honolulu Fashion Week 2015 is one of the most fun for me, just because Don Sumada’s styling echoes my aesthetic of fun, comfort apparel with a touch of shine, metal and glitz. And because I’m short, things that move and flow, like fringe and billowy fabric.

So funny because I hate to be noticed or for people to look at me, yet I like some loud pieces that are confusing to my friends, who ask, “Then why do you carry a shiny purse?” Or, in the case of daytime sequins in the blazing Honolulu sun, “You’re blinding me!”

I think that for many who are afraid of mixing and matching disparate pieces of clothing, the showcase is an eye-opener in how to elevate casual pieces. Yes you can mix camouflage and sequins, yes joggers and swimwear can look glamorous at night. Most importantly, yes local style can travel to any destination in the world.


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While so new to this town, Honolulu Fashion Week is an important time for everyone in the industry and people were talking about how hectic the weekend was in taking in four to six shows over two days. In the big picture, that is a snail’s pace. The last time at New York Fashion Week, I went to four shows a day, about 28 shows in all when there are well over 100 official shows going on.

The finale look by Meleana Estes and Bliss Lau, known for her body jewelry was a show stopper, a two-piece, resort-white peasant top and skirt worn by Keke Lindgard and draped in body “chains” of hundreds of bozu flowers strung into lei. It provided a moment of drama every fashion show needs.

 Paulina in a Moon Collective safari camo jacket, sequin skirt and Zacarias cube bag.

Travis in Moom Collective safari jacket and Honolulu City T-shirt.


This time, Kini Zamora and Manuheali'i's Danene Lunn were the only designers who had their own shows, but as brands grow I can see a day when dozens of homegrown talents are also able to send 40 of their own looks down a runway.

And, it was exciting to have New York Fashion Week creator Fern Mallis in the house, as well as the Metropolitan Museum of Art Costume Institute curator in charge Harold Koda in town because I’m fascinated by costume and would have loved a peek behind the scenes at the museum collections. I feel lucky to have visited three of the Costume Institute shows during his tenure: “Chanel,” “Alexander McQueen: Savage Beauty,” “Schiaparelli and Prada: Impossible Conversations,” and “Punk: Chaos to Couture.”

I had the opportunity to interview him between the local shows. He was so humble and interesting, we ended up talking for an hour and I missed dinner, so I was starving. But that’s typical of fashion week, when in New York during that time no one has time to eat.

My interview with Koda, who’s retiring at year’s end, will appear in Thursday’s paper.

The New Yorkers: Honolulu-born Lynne O’Neill, executive producer of Honolulu Fashion Week, with Harold Koda and Fern Mallis.

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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.

Honolulu Fashion Week 2015: Kini Zamora presents Spring/Summer 2016 collection

Nadine Kam photos
Kini Zamora posed backstage after his fashion show at the Hawai’i Convention Center.

BY NADINE KAM

Kini Zamora has been one busy guy, traveling to Austin, Tex., in August for “Project Runway’s “Werk” fashion show, to Fashion Week Los Angeles in October, and opening his shop The Clique by KZ, last month.

And sending 40 looks down the runway during his Spring/Summer 2016 showcase at Honolulu Fashion Week on Friday.

Out went last year’s sportswear in favor of feminine dresses and jumpsuits. His color palette for women ranged from creme florals to a mix of muted and shiny metal for evening.

Most striking were dazzling evening gowns of feather-light, near transparent silver and orange metallics. There were also short, pleated metallic skirts that the bold-hearted can pull off by day.

 One of Kini's "Project Runway" pals, Sean Kelly, was there to show his support.


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More structured pieces showcased the technique that got him to the finale of “Project Runway.”

Interspersed with the women’s wear were casual pieces for men who have not advanced as far as women in the fashion realm. T-shirts and tank tops bore the word “Kane,” as if none of us could guess by eyeing the beefcake!

Back stage after the show, I spotted designer Sean Kelly, winner of Kini’s “Project Runway” Season 13. I tried to shoot the two from a low angle, which had Kelly saying, “I’m up here.” So funny because that’s the line one of my beautiful friends uses when men are talking to her boobs.

We had a nice chat about his own travels post-“Runway,” and how he has to balance design work/time with the demands of celebrity. He also spoke about growing up in New Zealand in a small place where he had nothing to do, so his creativity stems from having to entertain himself.

Chuching Yang back stage in one of Zamora’s designs.

Chuching Yang and Meg Akim in evening ensembles.

Zamora’s male and female models wore jewelry by Pharoah Beads, by local designers now based in Las Vegas.

Before the show, Kini's 40 ensembles lined up as dressers, below, study the looks to be created.

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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.

Honolulu Fashion Week: From one kind of runway to another

Nadine Kam photos
One of Korean designer Lie Sangbong’s creations, presented during the Hawaiian Airlines Presents: Runway to Runway fashion show during Honolulu Fashion Week.

BY NADINE KAM

As a sponsor of the 2nd annual Honolulu Fashion Week, Hawaiian Airlines presented a “Runway to Runway” fashion show of international designers from Hawaii and destinations served on its travel routes, and partnered with a handful of Honolulu Community College Fashion Technology Program graduates and other emerging designers for a unique experiment in upcycling as a fun way to demonstrate social and environmental responsibility.

The HCC graduates and participating designers from The Cut Collective + Creative Lab’s Fashion Immersive Program were invited to participate in the airline’s “Cabin[to]Couture” project as a platform to showcase their skills using first-class and coach seat materials that were removed from planes after HA rejuvenated the cabin of its Boeing B717 neighbor island aircraft earlier this year with modern, lightweight seats.

Hawaii designer Kaypee Soh, right, with Japan model/actress Hinano and center, AULA designer Yukimi Kawashima.


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The upcycled garments and accessories made from the old seat fabric were unveiled in a small exhibition that greeted fashion week participants over the weekend.

When approached with the project, Joy Nagaue, professor of the Fashion Technology Program at HCC said, “I accepted; our students can do anything!”

And so they can. The work shown by Randy Oribello (Class of 2014), Chai Lim (Class of 2013) and Jacky Lau (Class of 2013), was nothing short of amazing in detail, and even more impressive given the weight, thickness and inflexibility of the fabric.

This airline seat, above, became the dress below. The upcycling challenge was part of Hawaiian Airlines “Cabin[to]Couture” challenge to emerging local designers.

Chai Lim was inspired by the notion of air and flying in creating an airy, short skirt paired with a clean, structured strapless top. The 2013 HCC graduate works at Tori Richards, as a pattern technician.

Honolulu Fashion Week 2015 opening day

Nadine Kam photos
Honolulu Fashion Week’s “Live Aloha” show opened with Grace Lee, left, interviewing New York Fashion Week creator Fern Mallis, and local-born curator in charge of The Costume Insitute, Metropolitan Museum of Art, Harold Koda.

BY NADINE KAM

Honolulu Fashion Week opened Friday with a marketplace of local brands and “Live Aloha” fashion show featuring about 25 local designers and brands at the Hawai’i Convention Center.

Among those represented, big and small were Malia Jones, Matt Bruening, Ari South, Roberta Oaks, Sig Zane, Bliss Lau, Reyn Spooner, Florencia Arias, Allison Izu, Rumi Murakami, Ten Tomorrow and Language of the Birds. Credit for styling the local showcases goes to Don Sumada, originally from Hawaii, who’s now a freelance editorial and fashion show stylist based in New York City.

One of the runway looks.


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The show opened with Grace Lee briefly interviewing special guests in town for the event, fashion royalty Fern Mallis, who started New York Fashion Week in 1993, and Harold Koda, the local-born curator in charge of the prestigious Costume Institute, Metropolitan Museum of Art.

I was able to interview both, who are as humble as can be given their stature in the fashion/museum world. My interview with Mallis ran prior to fashion week, and my interview with Koda is slated to appear in the paper Dec. 3.

I had a seat, but ended up sitting on the floor for the best video angle. As a result, everyone who said hello, like fashion show producer Lynne O'Neill and Harold Koda, had to bend way down to greet me. Sorry about that!

Pierre, dressed in an indigo kerchief for the show, at the CHAI Studio booth within the fashion week marketplace.

Jana Higa of Blue Bird Jewelry showed some of her latest creations in the market place.

Dexter Doi and Carol D'Angelo of Ecolicious, started their company with eco tote bags long before the plastic bag ban, and have since moved into apparel. Next year, they may enter the cut-and-sew phase of their business. Many locally educated designers know Carol as a former instructor at the University of Hawaii apparel design program and former curator of the UH Textile Collection.

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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.

Kensei presents fall show at Greystones

Nadine Kam photos
Kensei, center, posed for pictures after his fashion show with his models, songstress Cathy Foy, left, and Dale Young.

BY NADINE KAM

Stylist Kensei staged an intimate fashion show for 20 of his friends at Greystones Mansion on Sunday.

The presentation featured fall looks including a 1970s boho-inspired segment, and evening looks showcasing the layering of textiles, textures, jewelry and accessories with Kensei-style ingenuity.

Segments were introduced by songstress Cathy Foy, who set the tone of the shows with disco-era songs: Abba’s “Dancing Queen” and Donna Summer’s “The Last Dance,” and Broadway’s “South Pacific” tune, “Bali Hai.”

Cathy Roberts in one of Kensei’s evening ensembles.


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A special place was held for long-time Kensei friend, Jane Lyman, who died April 29 at the age of 93. The last time Kensei staged such an intimate show was in his living room, to mark Lyman’s 90th birthday.

I missed the beginning of the show, but was told that at the start, a giant moth fluttered through the living room, that portends a visit from the deceased. There were many that felt Jane was there with us. Certainly, she would have loved to be there and would have enjoyed the show immensely.

Makiki’s graceful Greystones Mansion was the setting for the elegant show.

The 1970s-inspired segment also had a Southwest vibe with plenty of leather, fringe and statement jewelry.

Radasha Hoohuli in a beaded evening ensemble.

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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.