HIFI COOP
By Yu Shing Ting | Photos by Nathalie Walker
Hawaii Fashion Incubator (Hifi) celebrates the opening of Hifi Coop this weekend at Ward Warehouse (second floor above Town & Country Surf), offering a place for the community to connect, collaborate and collectively move Hawaii fashion forward.
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A team from Collaborative Design Workshop, Unleash Studio and Retail Therapy designed the 1,500-square-foot space, which features a local design boutique, photo studio, meeting/lounge area, workstations with sewing equipment, wi-fi, audio/visual equipment for presentations and more. Hifi members can utilize the space for meetings, workshops, events, retail sales and workspace, while members of the public can drop in to shop local designers, attend fashion events and classes, or work on their own projects.
The store opens to the public at 10 a.m.
March 3 with a trunk show featuring Cosmic
Bobbins, a line of sustainable, upcycled handbags from Ohio (pictured at right).
Featured local designers in the boutique include Meg by Design, Salty Girl Jewelry, Organik, Katrina Langford, UMEE, Maui Thing, Down Dog Productions, Arkotec, Addy Ollie and Aaron Lee.
To emphasize the hands-on aspect of the space, local artists and designers will facilitate do-it-yourself activities. Kids and adults can drop in to dye colorful tissue paper patterns with artist Maya Portner, or transform one of their basic T-shirts into something unique. Sewing machines and craft stations also will be set up throughout the weekend and can be used in exchange for a donation to Hifi.
For more information, visit hawaiifashion.org.
Makeup and hairstyling by Zairrah (zbeaute.com)
Fashion stylist: Tyson Joines
Assistant Stylists: Olo Alalamua and Ian Ramos.
