hawaii or bust

spotted this fab set from kate spade awhile ago but the show & tell was put on the back burner with all the goings on this summer. alas, the coin purse and ski hat have sold out but the slippers are still offered in the online shop (with free shipping, natch).

although i doubt anyone else could possibly wear the hat as well as this adorable fella.

its popularity does makes me wonder why such a happy-go-lucky and, obviously, island-inspired look was designed so far far away from hawaii.

designer challenge, anyone?

new peeks: wings hawaii

miter shell dress * ocean bandeau * mermaid skirt

if you stopped by the fashionista's market fresh shopping fair last weekend, you scored one of the first peeks of the new collection offered by the lovely ladies of wings hawaii. this time around wings is expanding their repertoire with made to order dresses cut from a stunning new offering of island inspired fabrics that have been block printed and dip dyed by hand in their maui studio.

the result is simply dreamy with tiny seashells receiving a delightfully graphic translation to create looks any modern day mermaid would swoon over. as a girl who counts lotta jansdotter and orla kiely among my favorite textile designers, i am seriously crushing on the maui made designs which add a whimsical indie spirit to the standard issue beach dress.

more peeks below . . .

water dress & skirt

aloha classic

aloha skirt * bandeau sun dress * miter girl

bangles * cowrie black diamond * pueo angel wing * full circle

the jewelry collection's handcrafted luster continues to impress with its mix of hammered metals, semi-precious gemstones, and delicate findings that have washed ashore after a journey through the pacific.

and, happy news for readers, the wings 'ohana is offering you a sweet summer surprise with 25% off your entire purchase plus a complimentary lucky wish necklace!

• secret code: hapahale
• expires: sun, jul 5th

the deal is valid in both the online shop and the wings flagship boutique on maui (simply whisper at checkout):

• where: 375 west kuiaha road, haiku
• shop hours: mon to fri, 9a to 4p & sat/sun, 9a to 1p

{mahalo sam!}

{update | feb 2011: wings moved its flagship shop to lovely little paia town last year and can now be found at 71 baldwin avenue}

organik spring/summer 2009

happy news for organik fans! the big island-slash-nw-based label has gotten its eco-friendly line into whole foods at kahala mall and released its threads from the earth spring/summer 09 collection.

the hand screened styles continue to be printed on planet friendly fibers ranging from organic cotton to bamboo knits and recycled textiles. new for the season - yoga pants and accessories including a gorgeous bamboo shawl and a fun kona coffee burlap tote that gives new life to the sturdy bags used by local farmers to store their beans.

more peeks below . . .

peacock tee + swallowtail shawl

butterfly beauty

herons

pirates + soul music

beach bum bag

inside the green room

in other news, organik recently opened up a new space on the big island (near costco) which stocks overstock styles from past seasons and misprints/seconds for those who are not too picky about perfection. the green room will also feature the work of local artists and is the exclusive big island dealer for bret surfboards from the north shore.

• where: 73-5580 maiau street, unit g, kailua-kona
• shop hours: by appt only or when the surfboard sign is out

alas, you can only scoop up a handful of styles in the online shop (w's there; m's here) so click over to the stockist list to support your neighborhood purveyor of organik goods.

introducing posh pua

floral bikini + monokini

posh pua, the new handmade clothing line created by maui designer julie stone, is further evidence that the islands' emerging style scene is inspiring more kama'ainas to take the plunge into fashion design. upon moving to maui a few years ago, julie took notice of the success of homegrown labels tamara catz and letarte which eventually prompted the kailua-raised designer to turn her sewing hobby into an indie biz.

this past spring, posh pua quietly launched its debut collection which features a handful of patterns designed for flirty days on the sand and simple coverups that easily transition from the beach to the streets. what sets posh pua apart is julie's commitment to creating a sustainable swimwear/resort line by incorporating eco-friendly fibers like bamboo and organic cotton plus the occasional vintage textile appearance.

plaid bikini

a gathering dress * pua o papaete romper * beach bloomers

all designs are made to order in julie's upcountry studio and custom requests are also welcome should you require a little assistance to find the perfect fit.

preview the collection on the official website and then click over to the etsy shop to scoop up the latest offerings.

you can also find posh pua at beauty & the beach's online emporium and sassy 2nds, a new to you consignment boutique that julie and her sister-in-law recently opened in paia.

new peeks: kealopiko

ahole banded tank

it's been far too long since the lovely designs of kealopiko made an appearance, and a quick click revealed a number of new looks plus the welcome addition of organic styles to the mix. kealopiko continues to educate wearers via hand screened tees which always offer up a lesson into hawaii's past and present by honoring all of its many inhabitants.

no matter how long you have called the islands home, there is always something new to learn and i love reading the descriptions of how each kealopiko design came to be. now wisdom once passed down from generation to generation can be found thoughtfully splashed across a simple t-shirt be it a closer examination of the history of a popular surf break to a quick study in island botany.

more peeks below . . .

moon phase dress * lanikuuwaa * ke'elikolani

manu o ku * kalehuawehe * moi

find all the featured styles over in the online shop (be sure to take a peek at the sale section for discontinued designs) or support your neighborhood stockist which now includes whole foods in kahala mall, na mea hawaii / native books at ward warehouse, and the imiloa astronomy center on the big island.