Fashion
Honolulu Fashion Week Shows Us How To Style Aloha Prints All Year Round
Dress like the locals
I had the privilege of attending the third annual Honolulu Fashion Week this past month along with NYLON's senior beauty editor Jade Taylor; together we experienced the culture and fashion of the Aloha State (which, by the way, don't call them "Hawaiian shirts" anymore, you guys, they're "Aloha shirts).
Launched in 2014, Honolulu Fashion Week celebrates designers from Hawaii and beyond. Sponsored by Hawaiian Airlines and organized by Honolulu Magazine, events are open to both media and the public, so everyone on the island of Oahu can enjoy all things fashion. The events take place over three days and include 11 runway shows offering everything from men's and women's ready-to-wear to swimwear designs.
Produced by Lynne Hanzawa O'Neil, who comes from New York and has previously worked on events for designers including BCBGMaxazria, Vivienne Tam, and Tommy Hilfiger, Honolulu's Fashion Week was a great success, particularly thanks to its combination of amazing shows and an accompanying marketplace where local boutiques and designers could sell their products to media and local consumers alike.
Check out the gallery below for some of my favorite collections and designers from Honolulu Fashion Week.
Designed by Manaola Yap, Manaola Hawai'i was definitely one of the highlights of the three days, not only because we got to preview his collection twice before seeing the official runway show but also because it felt the most authentically Hawaiian. Using Hawaiian dancing and music, the models walked out powerfully to stunning effect.
You might be familiar with South as both a Season 8 Project Runway and a Project Runway All Star contestant. Her clothing was beautiful, and the prints were amazing. Definitely vacation wear everyone should want to own.
Having started in the 1950s, Reyn Spooner celebrated its 60th anniversary showing at Honolulu Fashion Week by mixing vintage styles alongside new styles and prints to show a full range of the brand from past to present. Think: The most classic aloha prints you've ever seen!
Kini Zamora, another major Project Runway alum, nailed his show with amazing flowing dresses and bright aloha prints. Getting all the way to NYFW twice on the show, he clearly knew how to handle Honolulu Fashion Week like a pro.
