Graduating designers from Honolulu Community College’s Fashion Technology program will present their senior collections during their “Kaleidoscope” fashion show 7:30 p.m. Saturday at the school’s oceanfront Marine Education and Training Center at 10 Sand Island Access Road.
Tickets for the show are $35 and include heavy pupu beginning 5:30 p.m. when doors open. For tickets, call 845-9203. The featured designers are:
Raymart Dangaman
“Carpe Diem”
Model: Taylor McCumber
Dangaman took up fashion design because he had trouble finding unique shirts and jackets for himself. He quickly expanded his repertoire beyond men’s urban wear and aloha shirts into women’s casual and formal dresses. His willingness to adapt fits the realities of today’s marketplace, where every shopper has a different vision of fashion.
Charmaine Claire Viernes
“Midnight Escapades”
Model: Katelyn Kesinger
In high school, Viernes discovered wedding-related programming on TV and became addicted to the pageantry and drama surrounding the big day through shows like “Say Yes to the Dress.” “I became inspired by seeing wedding gowns and wanted to learn how to sew them.” That led to her pursuit of a fashion degree, but her interest didn’t stop with gowns. Her current collection is a street-savvy mix of ready-to-wear and formal garments in black with grommet accents.
Chantelle-Leigh Ramos Cho
“Rustic Romance”
Model: Kami Mukai
College years are a time for self-discovery and Ramos Cho took full advantage of her studies, first at Leeward Community College then HCC, having made the leap from pursuit of a marine biology degree to wanting to design swimwear, to finally discovering a passion for formal and bridal wear while watching her sister prepare for her wedding. “I really responded to lace,” said Ramos Cho, who especially loves the tactile aspect of hand-appliqueing lace to her garments, finding Zen in what many would consider a tedious process.
Shiloh Mercy
“Clothed in Mercy”
Model: Brooklyn Price
With modesty driven by her Christian faith, Mercy’s aim is to create clothing that makes women feel beautiful without over-sharing. Through her collection of evening gowns, she said, “I hope to inspire young ladies to love how they are made, and to know that it’s not about how much of yourself is exposed that makes you beautiful. You can stand out in a crowd just by being confident in your own inner beauty.”
Tricia Correa
“Holoholo”
Model: Ginger Kropik
Correa grew up across from the beach on the North Shore in a family of fishermen, and her love of the ocean is reflected in her eco-chic swimwear collection that uses fabric made from recycled fishing nets. Her cuts were created to flatter women of all sizes, and because she grew up in swimsuits, she was able to load them up with everything she loves about a great suit, such as support in all the right places and the versatility of lined, reversible fabric.
Renee Yanagihara
“Luxe”
Model: Kanani Oyakawa
Yanagihara started earning extra money in high school by sewing customized swimsuits for friends. Over the years, she’s perfected her patterns and hasn’t veered from creating swimsuits geared toward movement and contouring to flatter all body types.
Marisa Kiethanom
“Dawn to Dusk”
Model: Cassie Hedrick
The casualness of daytime separates belies the artisan techniques that go into Kiethanom’s designs. Fascinated by the colors of the sky as it shifts from light to darkness, Kiethanom employed hand-dyeing processes to capture nuances and ombre hues, while also using embroidery to create unexpected imagery of dinosaurs roaming amid her color landscapes.
Marlie Machado
“Sweet Disposition”
Model: Laura Ho
Machado switched majors four times in two years, not knowing whether her place was in teaching, business or somewhere in between. A visit to the local anime convention Kawaii Kon in 2014 drew her into the world of cosplay, then Lolita fashion. “I love the innocence of it,” said Machado, who’s drawn by the sweetness of pastels, ruffles and bows, as well as the etiquette of the Lolita lifestyle, which shares much of the charm, grace and formality attributed to royalty. “I always liked the princess thing.”
Kaoru Fujimura
“Breaking Borders”
Model: Tony Do
Taking her cue from singer Amber Liu, who breaks the mold of cutesy female K-pop stars with her androgynous looks and boyish demeanor, Fujimura has created a gender-neutral collection that’s comfortable and stylish. “People look at clothing and think of it as being for a man or woman, but I don’t want my clothing to be viewed as either/or,” she said.
Ma. Antoinette Jovellanos
“Pretty Little Thing”
Model: Kerah Tabisola
At 4-foot-8, Jovellanos is well-acquainted with the sizing problems petites face. Often forced to shop in children’s departments, Jovellanos is focused on creating adult styles for women smaller than the American norm. “I wanted to design clothes for petite women to feel sexy, fierce, proportioned and classy,” Jovellanos said.
Naomi Televise
“Everyday Vise”
Model: Alana Chappell
Of Samoan descent, Televise creates chic, everyday apparel for curvy women. Key to comfort is her use of Lycra that is typically reserved for swimsuits rather than streetwear, and lightweight, breathable mesh that goes into her denim jackets, leggings and pants. Having been teased for her own weight, she wants to send a message of self-love to women.
Caitlyn Ashby Saloricman
“Lust for Lace”
Model: Kandrie Martinez-Herring
Saloricman shares her love of lace by turning out casual designs for everyday wear. “Skirts, pants, I want to use as much lace as possible, with separates to mix looks for leisure or going out.” She said she likes to use flesh-colored linings under lace, taking perverse pleasure in the idea of getting people to do double-takes when they see one of her looks.
