New life for old tee

Nadine Kam photos
Michelle Douglas of Meg by Design hosted an Etsy community crafting event, teaching students how to reconstruct their old tees. Here, she helped one student to put two of her old tees together. She's wearing one of her own creations, available in the Hifi Pop-up Incubator on the lower level of Ala Moana Center, near Old Navy.



Already, two weeks seems like too-short a time period for the Hawaii Fashion Incubator to be in operation. There are a lot of classes and workshops on the calendar I want to try, but there are just so many things going on all around town, there's work and just not enough time to get to them all.

It would be different if the space were permanent (there are possibilities in the works), and we could count on recurring workshops and classes.

So it was that Michelle Douglas of Meg by Design, was presenting just one class on T-shirt reconstruction and I couldn't miss it. It coincided with the after party for Lovelessizm, so in a way, I was there for both, as curious party-goers peeked into the back room to see what was going on and stopped by to say hi and see what I was working on.

Why I had to do this is kind of a long story, starting with this large men's T-shirt I bought at Savers a couple of years ago. It had an image of a cat in sunglasses lounging on a beach. The T-shirt was old and faded, and the plasticized image was cracked, but it just appealed to me and I thought I could turn it into a casual camisole top with a plain top bodice and the image on the lower half.

I like the eco-friendly idea of reworking something shapeless, old and unwanted into something someone might actually want to wear. Then, like many leisure projects and good intentions, it went nowhere for lack of time and motivation.

Michelle helped Aryana Chang turn her T-shirt into a lightweight sweater jacket, below.

Every now and then, I'd spot the shirt and just recently was going to add it to a bag destined for Goodwill, but then stopped short of putting it in.

On Sunday I had talked to Tiare Thomas about vision boarding, and I think the image is one I might include on a vision board. In thinking about it, I figured I want to be the cat lounging on the beach without a care in the world! Tiare had talked about balance and as much as my work is play in that I'm doing things I like, I have very little down time and wonder what it might be like to actually take a vacation without working.

For the class, I also brought in a size XXL long sleeve jersey shirt I bought from Savers for fabric, but again, never reworked, so I used it as a dress on chilly days, knotting the front into a rosette. I thought it could be the back of the camisole if necessary.

Next thing I knew, Michelle had popped the shirt onto a manikin, and tying it every which way, and whatever she did looked amazing. When I said the two pieces didn't have to go together, she just said, "You've got yourself a dress," an amazing halter-style dress. Nobody there could believe what she'd created from such an ugly basic piece.

When it came to reworking the T-shirt, instead of using the whole cat image on the skirt portion as I had planned, she said it would be more interesting to use in the bodice, and would be even more interesting if I used half of the cat on the front, and the other half on the back, and it turned out really cute.

You can see Michelle's reconstructed wedding gowns and bridal collections during her Meg by Design launch party and fashion show at the Hifi Pop-up Incubator, 7 to 9 p.m. March 25.

In the meantime, you can also check out her items at Hifi or in her Etsy shop.

Cora Cardwell created this piece in class.

Here I am cutting fabric while there was a party going on in the background. Behind me are racks of Lovelessizm designs, back from the Centerstage fashion show. I'm not easily distracted when writing, but I found it really hard to sew with loud music.

Once a T-shirt: The almost finished top. Just gotta trim the loose threads, and the seam will be turned down for a tiny ruffle effect.

Crazy Shirts offers tsunami-relief T-shirts

Crazy Shirts photos
A portion of sales of "Tsunami Watch 2011" T-shirts will benefit the American Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund to support relief efforts.

Over years of close calls and uniquely Hawaii events, Crazy Shirts has become the master in the quick turnaround. In the aftermath of yesterday's earthquake in Japan and the tsunami that followed, the Hawaii-based company has created exclusive “Tsunami Watch 2011” T-shirt designs, available soon in Crazy Shirts retail locations and at www.CrazyShirts.com. A portion of proceeds from sales will be donated to the American Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund to support its relief efforts.

“Our thoughts and prayers go out to all those who have been affected by the Japan earthquake and tsunami,” said Mark Hollander, chief executive officer and president of Crazy Shirts, in a press release. “Hawaii has endured its fair share of natural disasters over the years, so we know what it takes to recover and rebuild. We hope that our contributions will help make a difference in the rebuilding process for those effected by this event.”

The men’s T-shirt design features images of both Japan and Hawaii and the magnitude of the earthquake on the front, while the back includes a graphic of Hawaiian Island chain with “Tsunami Watch” and the date of the event.

The women’s shirt features the Hawaiian Island image on the front and on the back, a small back shoulder hit that reads “Japan-Hawaii March 11, 2011 Support.”

The men’s design is available in classic white or heather brown crew neck T-shirts and the women’s in watermelon baby-rib T-shirt. Both retail for $27.

Stenciling with Sierra Dew

Nadine Kam photos
People of all ages can appreciate the ease and results of stenciling.


Spent a fun and creative afternoon at Fresh Cafe, where Sierra Dew was sharing her time, talent and materials to present her workshop "Using Your Stencil Pencil" as part of GirlFest.

Apparently, it was craziest in the morning, when people were anxious to get started creating. I showed up in the afternoon when things had calmed down. The downside was the T-shirts were all gone so only tote bags were left.

Sierra was so funny, because I had busted out my iPhone while interviewing her and she picked up on the Hello Kitty case right away, and said she had some Hello Kitty stencils that are popular with kids when she does her workshops. So, as soon as she saw me she busted out one of those stencils! I wasn't planning on using a Hello Kitty design, but it was so cute, I figured, why not?

I couldn't leave the design alone, so started adding a sort of leopard camouflage pattern over kitty. I was moving the stencil around before paint dried, hence the resulting smears.
Sierra's so reassuring, telling those who didn't like those smudges and smears, "It's your first one." She's learned from many a workshop that adults are very hard on themselves because they expect precision. But, like everything, it takes practice and constantly trying to improve on one's skills.

Thanks Sierra!

 

Participants in Sierra Dew's workshop used combinations of graphics and lettering for their T-shirt and tote designs.

 

Sierra Dew, left, with one of the workshop participants and her finished shirt.

I dressed Hello Kitty in a sort of leopard-spot camo.

On the other side of my tote, I used Sierra's buffalo design, created exclusively for her husband, but which she slipped into her box of stencils. Digging deep, I found it and it appealed to me more than some of the girly designs. If you're wondering why it has a yellow butt, that's from a peacock feather design I put on the tote first. Go figure.

Ed Hardy: Beyond the Tattoo

Nadine Kam photos
Don Ed Hardy and his wife Francesca, who shares his enthusiasm for arts of the East, including Japanese textiles.

While I was growing up in Waipahu, there was a tattoo shop on Waipahu Depot Road, and every time I passed by, I thought those designs would look great on a T-shirt. Those were the days before technology made it easier for artists to make a D.I.Y. fashion statement. After a while, the tattoo artist did create a couple of logo T-shirts, as did many shops, but nothing on the scale of Ed Hardy for Christian Audigier, a relatively recent phenomenon.

Although Hardy had been "tattooing" bodies since he was 11 years old, at first practicing on neighborhood kids with colored pencils, it took a long time for him to get to this place, first in 2002 when he partnered with a couple of T-shirt manufacturers. It really took off in 2003-04, when Hardy began his collaboration with the entrepreneur Christian Audigier.

These days, the Ed Hardy name is spelled out on many a T-shirt and trucker cap, and in addition to the line's presence in department stores, there are more than 80 Ed Hardy stores around the world. So when I interviewed Hardy for a story in advance of his fine art show, "Beyond Fashion: The Personal Art of Ed Hardy," at Robyn Buntin Gallery, I expected to be speaking to a consummate businessman. It was refreshing to find someone spiritual, humble and awed, surprised and grateful that his work has found a home on diverse canvases and milieus. It was something he would not have dreamed of when he was first introduced tattooing, when it was—to a mainstream audience—a taboo art form.

He credits Audigier's marketing skills with making his a household name, while he is quite content—in retirement—to work on his personal art.

Hardy with artist Ramsay, left, and gallery owner Robyn Buntin.

He's made many friends here over the years that he's divided his time between Honolulu and California. So a who's who of Honolulu's art world came out to show their support. They included Jodi Endicott, John Koga, Mary Mitsuda, Jason Teraoka, Franco Salmoiraghi, Lawrence Seward, Ramsay, Jay Jensen and 93-year-old Claude Horan, who wore a Santa Cruz T-shirt to show solidarity with Hardy, a fellow surfer.

Also represented were tattoo artist from several shops from Kailua to Waikiki. Ed greeted everyone warmly and seemed genuinely surprised by the turnout.

If you want to see the show, it's at 848 S. Beretania St. The Robyn Buntin Gallery is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mondays to Saturdays.

While many mentioned seeing the article I had written in the paper, it's kind of funny what people pick out when reading. Lawrence greeted me with a, "So, you don't like like facial hair."

In the same issue, I'd made mention about November as being called Movember, with a movement to encourage men to grown their mustaches for a month, as symbol of support for men's prostate health, in the same way ribbons convey support for AIDs and breast cancer research and push for cures. So, I did say I wasn't a fan of facial hair but would overlook it for the sake of the cause.

Well, maybe I shouldn't have generalized because I have to admit Lawrence is one of those guys who looks quite dashing with facial hair, and he goes, "What if it were Johnny Depp?"

Yeah, yeah, there are always exceptions. But I was thinking more along the lines of Jason Lee in "My Name is Earl," and the kind of mustache on T-shirts and depicted on the Movember website are the 1970s porno-looking ones, and while it's an individual's prerogative to look like porno guy, I'm just not into that, but hey, some women are!

To each, his or her own, I say.

"Tiger in Waves" and "Red Tiger in Wind," two of Hardy's works at the entrance to the Robyn Buntin Gallery.

Mayumi Suzui and her son Skyler, of OC16's "Ultimate Japan," are big fans of Ed Hardy apparel.

Tattoo artists Megan Jones of 808 Tattoo, left, and Tania Arens. Arens said of Hardy's work, "He takes the tattoo imagery, mixes Japan and traditional American tattooing, and brings it to the level of fine art and expression in a beautiful way."

Some of Hardy's flash work, this sheet dated 1961, was also on display.

Arens, Jones, and Terri and Bernd Siedenburg, owner of the Ed Hardy store at the Hyatt Waikiki, listen to the artist talk about his work.

From left, the artists Mary Mitsuda and Claude Horan, and their spouses Suzie Horan and Jesse Christensen.

With a show at Robyn Buntin's exquisite gallery, it's easy to get sidetracked, as I was by these circa 1910 silver insects from Korea, by Takase Kozan. The set of 12 is on the market for $65,000.