sales scoop: made in hawaii 2010

roberta oaks * ginger13 * midori jewelry

before you pop by the made in hawaii festival, be sure to glance over the list of h|h favorites who will be setting up shop and filling their weekend space with new looks and one time only deals. enjoy!

ali'i kula lavender introduces a lavender-infused pet lineup from shampoo to peanut butter doggie biscuits. {booth 175/176}

cindy from ginger13 will be showing off her 2010 collection (starting at $20), offering up to 75% off all jewelry designs, and setting up a $5 bin to further tempt you. {booth 322}

make a beeline to the lily lotus sales rack to score past season yoga basics for $20. {booth 316}

more mih news after the jump!

Click to read more ...

sneak peek: made in hawaii 2010

the made in hawaii festival opens on friday and, after many many clicks, i have compiled a little cheat sheet filled with island vendors to investigate if you plan on strolling the blaisdell this weekend.

1 - honolulu's be aloha transitions from custom alohawear for the japanese market to retro resort looks with the launch of its to kei label. {booth 372}

2 - rock simple koa hoops crafted of local wood gathered on mauna kea by woodworker jeff gomes. {hui 'ike ku'una section}

3 - north shore jewelry designer nilma hunter coaxes recycled sterling silver into puka shell bangles and other budget-friendly pretties. {booth 91}

4 - a member of the sig zane designs 'ohana has left the nest to launch punawai's line of delicate silk chiffon scarves and shawls printed with natural motifs inspired by the big island. {hui 'ike ku'una section}

5 - pretty up your everyday wardrobe with lovely screenprinted tops by noe clothing of oahu. {booth 294/295}

6 - kula-made pala'au's therapeutic skincare nurtures and detoxifies with medicinal hawaiian botanicals. {booth 366}

7 - tuck an everlasting flower in your hair with handmade enameled headbands by geisha fabulous of maui. {booth 386}

8 - uh hilo's kulanui product line offers beauty balms and kitchen deliciousness formulated with ingredients grown by local farmers. {booth 452/453}

9 - designer paula nurse of the big island constructs one-of-a-kind pieces composed of semi-precious, vibrational gemstones from topazes to tourmalines. {booth 94}

10 - tropilicious will be scooping up handcrafted ice cream with 'ono flavors like hawaiian mocha and toasted coconut. {booth 397}

11 - kona paradise candies' description of their chocolate dipped senbei is already tempting my sweet tooth. (order online at pat's island delights.) {booth 63}

12 - salty wahine mixes up gourmet seasoning blends but gets a mention simply for the kaua'i company's cheeky name and lovely logo. {booth 458}

13 - taste the freshly churned butters whipped up by waianae's naked cow dairy and remember to thank me later. {booth 461}

p.s. click back tomorrow for a roundup of festival news from our favorite designers!

photo.phile: unique vision photography

bon dance lanterns

summertime is bon dance season in the islands and one of the photographs that lingers in my etsy favorites was snapped by kahalu'u photographer celina flores of unique vision photography. you can almost hear the rustle of kimono, the steady rhythm of the taiko drums, and the sizzle of andagi dough as it drops into the frying oil.

celina has a wonderful eye for finding photography subjects in unexpected places and revealing architectural details in a new light. lovely evidence that toting your camera with you 24/7 can result in unforgettable images.

dino

elevator

tarp

{photo.phile notes}

what inspired you to pick up a camera and start clicking?
i have always had a fascination with the transformation of seeing a scene in real life, looking through the viewfinder to create a composition, and then holding a finished photo in my hand. i suppose it was that transformation that captured my imagination as a curious 4 year old with very patient parents.

photography muses that spark your imagination?
for black & white photography, w. eugene smith's photos for life magazine are my favorite - such humanity captured in images, especially his country doctor and minamata series. william eggleston was a great inspiration when i learned of his work during my years in the university of washington photography program. and james turrell's work, especially his sky spaces, although not photographic, have definitely influenced the way i see the world around me and utilize light to create images.
 
favorite island moment captured on "film"?
there are so many! the light here in hawaii is so different from anywhere else. my favorite images capture this unique beauty. there's a softness, a gentleness to the sky and clouds here, especially at dawn and dusk when they are tinted pink.

any simple tricks to share on how to best capture an architectural detail?
looking up allows you to notice details most people ignore. also, light and shadow - contrast - help to bring out texture and detail.

which camera stays close by for everyday shooting?
i always carry my canon g10. i love it because it's a point and shoot camera and is small and compact, but i can shoot in raw mode, giving me more control over the final image. plus, unlike my slr which is big and heavy and gets left home a lot of the time, my point and shoot is small enough that i want to and can carry it with me everywhere so as not to miss a photo op.

pay it forward with the best photography advice shared with you:
don't feel like you have to have the newest or most expensive equipment to take good photos. start where you are. when shooting, move around! view the subject from different angles. take LOTS of photos. and keep taking them.

local delights that are a must in your beach picnic basket?
mmmm . . . mango! yee's orchard on maui must use magical pixie dust to fertilize their trees because they produce the best mangoes i've ever tasted! and spicy ahi poke is a must-have, too!

mahalo celina! you can order limited edition prints in unique vision's etsy shop and discover all the many things that inspire celina on her blog.

aloha friday scoop

tickets for the fourth annual closet swap hosted by fashionista's market are now on sale! swap spots are limited to 250 lovelies and include a champagne brunch plus prizes, raffles and other diversions to entertain you in between fittings.

p.s. a portion of ticket sales and remaining clothing will be donated to the leeward domestic abuse shelter.

• when: sat, oct 9th - 9:30a to 2p
• where: luana hills country club, kailua
• tix: $30 (available by phone or at the fm boutique in chinatown)

knock 10% off your entire fighting eel purchase (including already marked down styles!) in exchange for helping the ladies move a few less garment racks to their new storefront.

• when: now to wed, aug 18th
• where: 47 north hotel street, chinatown
• shop hours: 10a to 5p

eco-friendly keiki shop little sprouts celebrates the terrific two's with an in-store birthday party complete with pupus, door prizes, and the launch of [ki-ele]'s keiki jewelry line.

p.s. save 20% off shop purchases during the happy event.

• when: sat, aug 14th - 6:30p to 8:30p
• where: 600 kailua road, suite 106, kailua

Click to read more ...

project runway recap: it's a party

party frocks by andy south & ivy higa

project runway presented its most playful challenge last night when the designers were invited to construct a look out of party favors, festive decorations, and the occasional de-stuffed animal. (click the link to stream this week's episode.) the latter was thankfully missing from the offerings of hawaii's two designers who showed an avant-garde origami beribboned lbd (andy south) and a garden party confection composed of paper napkin petals (ivy higa).

andy braiding ribbon * ivy's sketchbook

andy: make it work! | judgement day | video diary

ivy: make it work! | video diary

and, get the backstage skinny in the designers dish.

would you invite any of last night's looks to attend your next soirée?

{photo credit: barbara nitke, lifetime television}