This is a big season for Simply Sisters by Lola Miller Designs.

The Big Island jewelry and apparel company has just received a shipment of its first bolts of top-grade rayon fabric designed and made exclusively for it. The new fabric is available in black and white, red and white, purple and green, and brown and green.

"I love the vibrant colors," said company founder Regina Miller.

The print on the fabric is large, so it will be primarily used for dresses, while another shipment of bolts in a slightly different monstera design is expected within days. The incoming fabric has a smaller monstera print that will lend itself to blouses, Miller said.

During the design process it was decided that the name Lola should be incorporated into the print on the fabrics, a la Mamo Howell, Manu­hea­li‘i and others, not only to make the fabric more distinctive, but also as sort of trademark protection for the print, Miller said.

Her given name is Regina, but "Lola is what my grandchildren call me," she said. "It came out really big. We’ll make it smaller next time."

"We’re really excited" about the exclusive fabric ushering in a new phase of the business, Miller said. She said she and her husband and business partner, Kimo, look forward to creating additional fabric prints incorporating native plants and flowers.

The company started out as a hobby and didn’t involve clothing at first.

Miller started making jewelry, and in 2011, with encouragement from her husband, who founded Hono­lulu-based messenger service Rabbit Transit in 1979, she registered her business.

After a year of selling her jewelry at craft fairs, another facet of her life found its way into her business.

"It evolved into Hawaiian apparel because we dance hula for New Hope Hilo, so we wear costumes, and it evolved from there," she said.

"You know our passion, as women, is clothing and accessories, so it’s a good bonding thing for us as (hula) sisters. We get to collaborate, they give me ideas." 

Thus the designs are named after Miller’s hula sisters, their kumu, Norma, and Miller’s family members.

Miller’s fellow members of the New Hope Hilo dance ministry are the reason behind the name of her company. "Most of them are our models, and I couldn’t have done it without their encouragement and support," she said. "They are truly inspirational and women of faith."

Some of them sell their handmade jewelry at her craft fair events as well, she said.

Garments range from $35 for halter tops to $50 for the blouses, and $60 to $80 for dresses. The most popular blouse is the Pule­le­hua, or butterfly blouse, because of its flowing design, open sleeves and option to have elastic at the bottom hem.

"It is really popular," Miller said.

Despite encouragement from her husband to charge higher prices, Miller wants to keep the line affordable. "I don’t like it when people can’t afford the clothes," she said.

Kimo Miller credits his wife for being "gifted in clothing, and recognizing designs that will be popular."

"We went to the craft fairs and would sell out," he said.

Simply Sisters has one retail client, Hula Lehua at Ala Moana Center.

“Buy Local” runs on Aloha Fridays. Reach Erika Engle at 529-4303, erika@staradvertiser.com or on Twitter as @erikaengle.