Hawai‘i’s fashion industry is on the rise! Meet some of our islands’ emerging designers including Laha'ole, PōMahina Designs, David Shepard and LexBreezy shining the spotlight on our unique sense of place, culture & plants through their Hawai‘i-inspired apparel.
ABOUT DAVID SHEPARD HAWAI'I: designer David Shepard hand draws detailed artistic representations of native Hawaiian plants. Art forms the basis for sustainable and meaningful clothing that is made locally in Hawaiʻi. Each art print for fabric has a story behind it that highlights local flora and fauna and the people and organizations that care for them. By donating a percentage of proceeds to Hawaiʻi conservation organizations every year, David Shepard Hawaiʻi commits itself to slow fashion that supports the local environment.
ABOUT LAHAʻOLE: Lahaʻole Designs was created in 2013 out of a little grass shack in Wahiawā, Oʻahu. Founder and designer Tanya Uyehara creates classically handmade lahaʻole (uncommon) jewelry and clothing that share stories of Hawaiian culture and things reminiscent of Hawaiʻi nei
ABOUT LEXBREEZY HAWAI'I: Lexbreezy Hawai’i is a modern twist of aloha wear and resort wear. Made and designed in Honolulu, Hawai'i each piece is intricately designed to reflect the true Hawai'i local culture. Lexbreezy Hawai'i injects a young and flirty twist to aloha wear and encourages the young generation to embrace the daily adornment of Alohawear.
ABOUT PŌMAHINA: PōMahina Designs fashions contemporary pieces incorporating culture, tradition and aloha. The company aims to preserve various Hawaiian art forms while also offering custom designs to make each piece more personal for customers. The Native Hawaiian wahine founder from Molokai, Kanoelani is dedicated to advocating for cultural awareness through her wearable art. Each of her designs is a tribute to the Hawaiian indigenous people, capturing the different stories of her ancestors.