After 20 years in the fashion industry in New York, Beverly Horton was ready for a change. After vacationing in Hawaii, she decided she liked the pace of life here and moved to Oahu in 2012.
Never mind that local fashion styles are the opposite of what she wore and designed in the Big Apple. After getting her bearings, she learned how to merge her love of texture with resort style, and her newest collection, Posh Mod 2015, will be featured during the RAW: Natural Born Artists "Visionary" showcase 7 to 11 p.m. Jan. 15 at Crossroads at Hawaiian Brian’s.
The event will feature the work of 13 artists, including jewelry designers, musicians and photographers, with fashion shows by Horton and Nai‘a Bikinis beginning at 10 p.m. Horton will also have a pop-up shop on-site.
RAW: Natural Born Artists is a global independent arts organization, for artists, by artists, that started with a mission to provide emerging independent artists with resources and exposure.
The organization started in 2005 when aspiring fashion designer Heidi Luerra found herself in Los Angeles without the connections or resources to make her dreams come true. Looking at all the talented people around her in the same predicament, she decided to create a platform for the talented but unknown. Her first event drew 750 people, proving that such a showcase was needed.
The movement embraced all genres of art, from traditional drawing, painting and performing arts to independent film, fashion, hairstyling and makeup design. RAW quickly spread to nearly 60 cities across the United States, Australia, Canada and London, arriving in Hawaii in 2012.
Although Horton didn’t know anyone when she moved to Hawaii, she said she was pleasantly surprised to find a vast creative, collaborative community. Her Posh Mod collection came about when she posted a video to Instagram that caught the eye of local stylist Jose Santamaria, who envisioned an entire collection and 1960s-themed photo shoot.
"We thought we could collaborate on a minicollection of the 1960s re-imagined for the present day," Horton said. "I’d been working on a collection of resort-themed attire, but the idea blossomed from there, and coming up with the collection was so easy for me."
During the RAW showcase, she will be showing 20 pieces, including swimsuits and separates ranging in price from about $125 to $275. Her gowns run about $650.
Horton found ways to merge her love of luxurious and unusual fabric from Italy and France with casual styling, and although she moved here with a stockpile of fabric, she continues to go back to New York to shop for more.
"I use a lot of vintage pieces, so you always get something special that you’re not going to see everywhere else," she said.
According to Horton, the one aspect of Hawaii dressing that took her a while to embrace is the idea of a transitional wardrobe.
"I had to learn that day and night wear are not separate wardrobes, so people want one piece with a lot of versatility."
Beverly Horton’s garments are available at the Fairmont Kea Lani on Maui, and online at beverlyhorton.storenvy.com.
