Local designers Allison Izu, Janice Tsujimura and Jeanie Chun will show their latest collections at Hui Makaala’s eighth annual scholarship lunch and fashion show July 30 at the Hilton Hawaiian Village Coral Ballroom. Also during the event, the Okinawan scholarship organization will award more than $21,000 to nine Hawaii students.
Another highlight will be the participation of the Nozomi Project from Japan during boutique sales that begin at 9 a.m. The women of Tohoku in the Miyagi prefecture created “Beauty from Brokenness” jewelry and accessories, incorporating broken pottery pieces collected after the 2011 Tohoku earthquake and tsunami.
The social enterprise has helped bring employment and hope to the region, and proceeds from jewelry sales go to perpetuate the project. Prices range from about $35 for rings to about $87 for silver cuff necklaces with pottery pendants.
Moanikeala Nabarro, Dazzman Toguchi and Darah Dung will be paired with one of the designers for special dance and music performances, and a $20,000 antique silk kimono will be transformed on stage into a strapless wedding gown.
Tickets are $80. Lunch begins at noon, followed by the runway presentation at 1:30 p.m. Call 551-7868 or 988-1471 for tickets. Admission to the boutique shopping event is free.
Here’s a look at what the designers have been up to:
ALLISON IZU
The designer just completed a move from Ward Warehouse to 1114 11th Ave. in Kaimuki, where she is sharing the premises with Ten Tomorrow designer Summer Shiige. The move is the designers’ third in three years. “Hopefully, we’ll be here for at least three years. It’s been a lucky number for us,” Izu said.
She and Shiige will be showing her latest summer collections during the Hui Makaala fashion show, which takes Izu back to her roots in denim and incorporates splashes of color in tops and dresses.
The new Kaimuki boutique is set up like a home, with mood rooms themed by color and season, and shopping on the first floor and their workspace upstairs.
Although Izu said she’s sad to leave Ward, which helped to nurture her transition from pop-up to retail business, she’s reading signs the move to Kaimuki will be a positive one.
“When we talked about the move, our customers would tell us, ‘I grew up in Kaimuki’ or ‘My mom’s house is in Kaimuki,’ so I feel like a lot of them already have ties to the area.”
JANICE TSUJIMURA
The designer spent 50 years in the fashion business, half that time creating bridal attire. It wasn’t until a trip to Japan in the 1980s that she purchased her first kimono from Toji Temple and discovered a new outlet for her creativity: giving old treasures a second life as contemporary silk and cotton yukatas, tops and men’s shirts for everyday wear.
She sews all her creations herself. “It’s a passion of mine. I just do what I can handle,” she said.
But she hasn’t lost her bridal philosophy. “I try to make only one of a kind. I may repeat on fabric, but never on style and fabric. That wouldn’t be fair for someone to be wearing what somebody else has.”
When it’s time for the Hui Makaala fashion show, she rounds up all her creations to offer during the boutique sale. Her women’s tops range from about $95 to $125. Her men’s shirts sell for $195 to $225.
JEANIE CHUN
After retiring from running her retail boutique in 2014, Chun took to the road, traveling to Korea for international textile events, to participate in fashion shows and making appearances as a guest speaker at Korean fashion design schools.
Locally, she launched Club de la Mode, a private social club that allows members to learn about fashion, style and well-being through workshops that give Chun the opportunity to develop her own skills as well.
When members wanted to stage a masquerade ball, Chun learned how to create Venetian-style masks so she could teach club members the art form, and she never stopped.
“I never really saw the masks up close, but I had all the lace, the leather trimming. I like to do anything with my hands, and once I started I loved it,” she said.
In a month, she created 90 masks, a few of which will be worn in her segment of the fashion show, featuring dressy day and evening wear.
For more information on Club de la Mode, call 352-0103.
