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DENNIS ODA / DODA@STARADVERTISER.COM
A press conference was held at the Hawaii Convention Center announcing details of Honolulu Fashion Week with preliminary designer lineups featuring (left to right) Kaypee Soh (Co-Founder, Creative Director kaypeesoh design), Model Malia Jones, Emma Wo, Miss Hawaii USA 2015 and local designer, Matt Bruening.
Kini Zamora, Sig Zane and Malia Jones will be among the Hawaii designers sharing the spotlight with several international fashion stars during the second annual Honolulu Fashion Week, set for Nov. 20 to 22 at the Hawai‘i Convention Center.
“As you all know, Hawaii is made up of a true melting pot of cultures which has influenced our local customs, food, style and, of course, fashion,” said Alyson Helwagen, executive director of Honolulu Fashion Week and publisher of Honolulu Magazine, during a news conference Wednesday at the convention center. “Most of the world is familiar with the aloha shirt, but our mission with Honolulu Fashion Week is to share with the world that Hawaii fashion goes beyond the Hawaiian-print shirt and dress. We want to celebrate how Hawaii has inspired and influenced designers all over the world.”
The three-day event will feature at least three shows, a marketplace and model search — all free to the public.
Todd Snyder of New York, Kym Ellery of Sydney, Lie Sang Bong of Seoul and Yukimi Kawashima of Tokyo, along with Hawaii designer Kaypee Soh, will present capsule collections for Runway to Runway, a show inspired by the fashion markets serviced by Fashion Week sponsor Hawaiian Airlines.
Two signature fashion shows from last year will return. Live Aloha celebrates the wide range of Hawaii’s design talent and their different approaches to fashion, and Get Out! showcases Hawaii street style, swimwear and active wear.
Other participating Hawaii designers include Allison Izu, Bliss Lau, Cameron Hawaii, Florencia Arias, Ink & Tailor, In4mation, Language of the Birds, Mahiku Activewear, Matt Bruening, Moon Collective, Reyn Spooner, Roberta Oaks, Salt Liko and Tiffany Chou.
Jones, having just launched her inaugural Malia Jones spring/summer 2015 luxury resortwear collection in April, was at Wednesday’s news conference, along with Soh. She said she was excited about Honolulu Fashion Week and that she will likely bring her line of luxurious caftan cover-ups.
“It’s such a great show,” Jones said. “It’s Hawaii. It was awesome last year, so I’m really looking forward to it.”
Soh, who owns a design studio at Ward Warehouse and is better known for home decor, has a line of ’60s-inspired womenswear that debuted at Fashion Week last year. He’ll showcase his second collection.
Visiting fashion industry pros attending this year include the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Costume Institute curator-in-charge Harold Koda, New York Fashion Week creator Fern Mallis, Hawaii-born model Keke Lindgard, and reigning Miss Hawaii USA and fashion blogger Emma Wo.
Seats for fashion shows will be on a first-come, first-served basis. Reserved seats will available for $25 at honolulufashionweek.com starting Tuesday.
