UH designers celebrate 'Roots'

Nadine Kam photos
Moses Gouveia was one of two senior designers showing their collections at the 50th annual University of Hawaii at Manoa fashion show, themed "Roots." His collection is entitled "Lush Hawaiian Garden."

The University of Hawaii at Manoa’s Fashion Design and Merchandising Department marks its 50th anniversary this year, and it's annual fashion show on May 1 celebrated both up-and-coming designers, as well as returning alumni. The event, "ROOTS: The 50th annual UHM Fashion Show," took place May 1 at Kennedy Theater.

The show opened with returning alumni presenting a group collection. They were Terrilyn Okumura (Class of 1982), Matt Bruening (2009), Erin Rudolph (2009), Jennifer Fukino (2010), Joelle Perry (2011), Kristen Domingcil (2011), Kathryn Stringer (2012), Cole Lida (2013), Bejan Moers (2013), Chyloe Guerrero (2014), Tori Speere (2014) and Sarah Yamashige (2014).

Graduating senior Kari Begay paid homage to biker/Bond girl chic with her "X's & O's" collection.

Following a showcase by junior designers Angela Huber, Cheryl Ishii, Von Kaanaana, Yuyu Liu, Breanne McCleary, Darcy Shindo, Carly Tanimoto and Lily G.B. Zheng, was a presentation of a special collection of jewelry-inspired designs by Liu, Zheng and Yuanting Wu, and neoprene designs by Moses Gouveia.

Closing the show were collections by seniors Kari Begay and Moses Gouveia.

Gouveia's collection was inspired by Manoa valley and the fragrance of the awapuhi flower. His nine-piece collection featured swimwear, day wear, cocktail looks and an evening gown.

He initially earned his AAS degree in fashion technology at Honolulu Community College in 2013, before continuing his education at UH. After graduating, he aims to start his own women’s resortwear line.

Begay's collection reflected her love of motor culture, and her biker black pieces was centered around fashion for riders. She looked to Bond girl silhouettes for inspiration.

Even though this was a UH show, the faculty of Honolulu Community College's Fashion Technoloogy program still claim Gouviea as one of their own. He earned his Associate in Applied Science degree there before pursuing his Bachelor of Science degree in Fashion Design and Merchandising at UH.

Here's a look at the designs:


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A couple of menswear looks from the junior showcase.

One of the alumni designs, left, and a dress by fashion show director and junior designer Von Kaanaana.

One of the designs from the special collections segment, inspired by jewelry. Below, a detail.

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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.

Fashion photography and traditional costume exhibitions open

Photo courtesy Yi Lin Hu
Photography by Yi Lin Hu is on exhibition at CANON U.S.A., through the end of the month.

If you’re looking for something new to set your sights on, a couple of exhibitions around town focus on different aspects of fashion:

Over at CANON U.S.A., Ward Plaza, Yi Lin Hu is presenting an exhibition of his fashion photography.

The exhibition is presented in three sections focusing on the intricacies of fashion design, introspective contemporary portraiture and cinematic storylines.

The photos feature the work of designers Beverly Horton, Kini Zamora, Dinko Satta and Joelle Perry, with styling by Jose Santamaria, Reise Kochi and Therese Wahl, and makeup and hair by June Jones, Jake Acedo, Jonathan Freitas, Vanessa Li and Sanna Myers.

Open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays, through March 31. Admission is free. Plaza is at 210 Ward Ave., across from Ward Warehouse.

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Photo courtesy UHM Historic Costume Collection
Clothing associated with traditional techniques and styles are on view at the UHM Department of Fashion Design and Merchandising.

Clothing associated with traditional techniques and styles are on view at the UHM Department of Fashion Design and Merchandising.

The University of Hawaii at Manoa’s Historic Costume Museum is hosting an exhibition from its costume collection, daily through Sunday in Miller Hall, Room 112 (Room 101 on Sunday).

Titled “It’s Traditional,” the show was curated by students in the Costume Museum Management class.

In an effort to research and understand textiles used by diverse cultures, students were allowed to select a garment or outfit in the museum reflecting the theme of tradition. In the process, students were able to learn more about the culture behind the garments and to correctly display the items.

Hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. through Saturday, and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday. Admission is free.
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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.

LICH likes plant diversity

Nadine Kam photos
Iona Contemporary Dance Theatre performers helped introduce segments in the Landscape Industry Council of Hawaii's "Project Greenway" fashion show.

Farming and fashion are two pursuits that rarely share the same billing, but anything could (and did) happen when the Landscape Industry Council of Hawai‘i dared to pre­sent a unique evening of foliage, fashion and food from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. June 14 at Kapiolani Community College.

The event provided the backdrop for the "Project Greenway" plant show putting the spotlight on 60 native and non-native plants for the urban landscape, with segments themed "Forbidden Fruit," "Sophisticated Savages," Garden of Love," "The Restless Natives" and "Jungle Flower."

The show was intended to introduce diversity to landscape architects, who often dictate which plants nurseries grow. According to LICH President Chris Dacus, "This can lead to overuse of certain plants, which is not only monotonous, but it can also be dangerous to rely too heavily on a limited suite of plants that could be devastated by new diseases or insect pests.

"We want to entice landscape architects to think about adding different plants to their palette, including more native Hawaiian plants."

Farmers in their work togs of denim, tank tops, T-shirts and work boots topped with large, broad-brimmed straw hats jogged onto the turf runway bearing pots of plants, while emcee Pamela Young detailed the plants' history and uses, while models in clothing designed by juniors and seniors in the University of Hawaii College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources' apparel product design and merchandising program pointed out the appropriate plants (many times with an assist from the audience. You didn't expect to find many of these girls doing heavy yard labor, right?)

It was all in fun, and I remembered a time I told a farmer I would like to be a farmer one day. He scoffed and scolded, "Look at your hands!"

White, creamy, soft, spotless, callous free, long nailed. So what?

"You can't do heavy labor," he said. Of course, he's wrong, and I'm never bothered by anyone else's notion of what I can or can not do, because I know my own capabilities.

The event was a great collaboration involving students from three University of Hawaii system campuses, with models' hair and makeup done by cosmetology students from Hono­lulu Community College.

Dancers from IONA Contemporary DanceTheatre added even more color to the event, dressed in dazzling floral costumes conceived by creative director Cheryl Flaharty.


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The plant nurserymen in their signature denim, T-shirts, tank tops and straw gardener hats.

Models in designs by University of Hawaii fashion students.

Flora and flower petal designs created by the University of Hawaii students.