reincarnation island style

dragonfly * tsuru * oxford

my friend recently reminded me of the work of local girl/designer, allison izu nagato, who recently returned to the islands to launch her collection(s). yep, it seems that the talented mind behind the popular reincarnation hawaii line has more than a few collections up her sleeve.

under reincarnation, allison works her magic by reworking fabric from vintage alohawear and kimono obi into distinctive patterns with a playful, art school vibe. additional details include embellishments like swarovski crystals and hand painted flourishes topping off hand dyed pieces from american apparel.

buddha as duke

fellas can snap up something for themselves via sacred surf company which is bringing a little zen to menswear. the fashion institute of technology grad also has a highly anticipated petite denim line making its debut next month.

if you like what you see, there are a few days left to score 10% off your online order via the designer's eponymous izushop.

• secret code: AN22YS54
• expires: sun, sep 30th

fighting eel holiday 2007

mk

speaking of fighting eel, the holiday 07 collection is now posted on their website. lots of pieces to mix and match, some with a little bit of shimmer and others rocking a playful pattern to make your holiday sparkle.

juliet

rosa

who else thinks rosa wants to be twirled around the dance floor on new year's eve?

the collection is not yet in stores, but find your favorite and then check in with your nearest stockist &/or hit up active endeavors and rafael hawaii for the best online picks.

{update | sep 25th: fe designers lan & rona were recently featured on style scoop. click here to read the interview.}

lunchbox clothing

the other day i came across lunchbox clothing, an adorable local tee design house that recently set up shop on etsy. the family business is comprised of two generations who, despite the age gap, share a fondness for all the little things that they love about living in hawaii.

the contents of a keiki's lunchbox inspired their young at heart collection for grownups which includes sweet shout outs to everything from the islands' abundance of guava to this fabulous diamond head design. the delightfully charming graphics remind me of those vintage trailers with dancing ice cream cones and candy boxes that used to be projected on the movie screen at the drive-in (mmm, remember those carnation chocolate ice cream cups sold at the concession stand? yum!)

lunchbox scores extra points for screenprinting their designs on american apparel (fair wage/made in the usa) jersey tees, however, only w's sizes are currently stocked online (although, emo boys could probably rock the slim cut tees).

take a peek inside their etsy shop and score free shipping on orders in the states.

{update | 2011: lunchbox's line of cuteness is now being made under their new label wimini hawaii}

roberta oaks fall 2007

quaint + skipper

the fall 07 collection from roberta oaks recently made its debut with an announcement that bamboo jersey has been incorporated into the eco minded designer's textile mix. if you've not yet hopped aboard the green bandwagon, there are reasons a plenty to love bamboo such as its silky soft texture and super breathable / moisture wicking / anti-bacterial properties. and, since bamboo (which is also biodegradable) can grow up to a foot a day, it just happens to be one of the most renewable & sustainable fibers on the planet.

back to the collection. with the exception of a vote tee, this fall it is all about the little dress. while there may only be a subtle shift of the seasons in the islands (imperceptible to the outside world but there nonetheless), if autumn is your favorite time of year you will love how the fall collection embraces colors like a ripe tomato orange or a pop of citrus and mixes it with luscious chocolate brown and other versatile neutrals along with punchy stripes and hand sewn embellishments to warm up your wardrobe.

shop online or hit the stockist list.

a peek inside the crafty playground

during small kid days, i was the little girl who always rocked the pigtails and, upon entering the fifth grade, the oh so sophisticated ponytail. every. single. day. my friends would wonder what i would look like if my hair ever had the opportunity to escape their elastic constraints. the one constant of both styles were those little plastic goody ponytail holders that, upon a quick release, had a tendency to crack your knuckles hard like one of my cousin's weapons of pain so essential to his quest of becoming the next bruce lee.

if these adorable hair accessories from tasha's bags & baby had been around, no doubt i would have wanted to trade up for a little more cuteness (bonus: no more bruised fingers!). tasha grew up on oahu and spent many hours in her grandfather's picture framing shop crafting to her heart's delight. now that she's tending to her own little one, spare moments are spent whipping up sweet creations with charming japanese textiles her father discovers and posts to hawaii.

in addition to hair goodies, stop by tasha's etsy shop to pick up handmade zip bags, totes, and other accessories sure to brighten your day (i am loving the hedgehog apron). if you are planning on hitting oahu's holiday craft show circuit, look out for her booth which will be stocked with all the goodness you see here.