surfing with wings

palapalai wrap + bling wing

it's been a lot of fun watching wings hawaii making ever bigger waves over these past couple of years from their beginnings as a small women-owned style collective creating sweet handprinted tees and handcrafted jewelry in their maui studio to the opening of a wings boutique in haiku last year.

2008 is off to a wonderful start with designer samantha howard's jewelry collection getting some love in this year's sports illustrated swimsuit issue (take a peek at the subtle variation of sam's bling wing design which is pierced by hand to retain a one of a kind style).

the other big news is that the wings website recently received a pretty makeover and the new online shop is filled with fresh interpretations of the happy go lucky designs that add a little island spark to everyday basics. even better is the introduction of eco-friendly fabrics like organic cotton and recycled polyester which is a welcome addition to the product mix.

shell hoodie + mermaid full circle

take a peek at the stockist list or stop by the boutique and say hello!

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

eco tip: byob(ag)

imagine a simple lifestyle change that has an immediate impact on the world around you. when i stopped by fighting eel's chinatown hq last year, the designers sent me on my way with a cute canvas tote which has become my little companion to the market, post office, library, drugstore, and so on.

i feel happy knowing this one small act is reducing our family's consumption of plastic & paper bags with the added bonus of a bag stuffed with bags no longer sucking up valuable real estate in our small space.

it seems like everyday a new bag is released for your consideration and just yesterday natalie from shasa emporium buzzed me about their new reusable shop bag available for purchase at their kahala boutique ($8 plus a one time 10% discount on shop purchases).

there are options a-plenty if you are up to the challenge from the modern patterns by envirosax (featured last earth day along with those super cool sigg bottles which are both now available at red pineapple & lily lotus) to the minimalist baggu and the sleek and sturdy rume. or just click over to reusablebags for one stop shopping.

a small step you can take to keep our planet happy and healthy!

stacia eco-spacedye collection

swing cardi + gathered vee

images of crunchy granola hippie gear may pop into your head when "eco fashion" is mentioned (if so, let me nudge you here and here for a look at sustainable style done modern), but la-based designer stacy johnson of stacia is putting a new twist on it via her eco-spacedye collection which utilizes bamboo jersey in this season's springtime knits.

stacia's signature spacedyed pattern has been reinvented in sweet pieces designed for tropical living since bamboo, once transformed into a textile, is known to be breathable, anti-bacterial, & naturally wicks away moisture. feminine silhouettes can be found throughout the spring collection which recently introduced solid colors into the mix for those who prefer to rock just a hint of pretty print.

take a peek at the entire collection in stacia's online shop or try your luck with the growing stockist list.

click rewind to learn more about stacy!

cirque spring/summer 2008

carioca

thanks to cirque designer alfonsina ladogana we can now add a modern dash of style from the americas south of the border to the influx of taco shops, capoeira practitioners & brazilian bikinis that have been recent additions to the islands' melting pot.

the buenos aires-raised designer spent her childhood watching her grandmother make everything from winter coats to blouses for her family. the sewing skills alfonsina learned as a young girl eventually helped lay the foundation for cirque, the latin-inspired accessory collection which she launched after settling in hawaii a few years ago.

the designs first take shape in honolulu and then are dispatched to argentina where the belts are made by local craftspeople. alfonsina works with leather suppliers from her homeland who process the hides in a humane and eco-friendly way which means cows are pasture raised for market (argentina's world famous grass fed beef) and the processing of the leather is done in a way to minimize its impact on the environment.

jazz sash

 tango sash two ways

if, like me, you are a bit clueless about mixing in accessories, take a peek at the website which is filled with style ideas on the many ways a cirque belt can make an outfit pop.

an online shop is in the works so for now you will have to be content with clicking over to the stockist list to locate your nearest boutique.

welcome to moopiland

aloha mousepad

this popped in my mailbox yesterday and i couldn't resist sharing a few sweet finds from moopiland. two words came to mind when i visited the website: so cute! moopiland is literally a mom & pop company homegrown in hawaii after the birth of the owners' little girl (who lended her nickname to the family biz).

upon the arrival of their little one, owners keiko and arne started to make clothing for their daughter which soon caught the attention of other parents. and so moopiland was born. innocent creatures from kittens to pandas mix with happy patterns which pepper all the handmade offerings created in moopiland. everything is adorable and the keiki dresses are custom made to order in sizes 2T to 6T.

and, grownups can join in on the fun with a handful of kawaii designs made just for them.

kitten dress

country gather bag

shasa emporium just kicked off a weeklong sale with 25% savings on their entire stock of moopiland goods. if you can't make it to the sale, moopiland's online shop is open 24/7 with orders over $100 shipped free to the states, guam & puerto rico.

• when: now - sun, apr 13th
• where: shasa emporium, kahala mall