Kamohoalii Hawaii Designs Shown at Fashion Week Shows in London, Milan and Paris : Maui Now
Fashion designer Kumu Hula Mika Kamohoalii introduces Hawaii to three European Fashion Week events this month.
The tour kicked off at the London Fashion Week show on 17th September 2022 and featured an immersive cultural presentation themed around Hulu Ali’i – The Royal Feathers. Using traditional native art in a modern fashion, Kamohoalii made a presentation in Hyde Park, England, in central London.
The team appeared among hundreds of thousands to pay tribute to the late Queen Elizabeth II. The procession includes the traditional maro and ahuura or feather cloak, hand-held kahili, feather lei, and a tilea her lei approximately 750 feet long made by emergency to honor the passing queen’s coffin. I was. They were given a special place to mourn in front of the Prince Albert Memorial.
He traveled nearly 800 miles to Milan, Italy, with a team of 40 Hawaiian models and musicians to present at Milan Fashion Week on September 24, 2022. , and featured the fabric of his family’s bark cloth.
He collaborated with Maui Divers Jewelry to create exclusive jewelry using his own patterns and designs. There he found his 7-pound maile of all gold that Kamohoalii wore while dancing to a song about the crown jewels of Kalakaua and Kapiolani that arrived from Italy in the showcase finale, including his lei. Published 20 of his major works.
Finally, the team will visit the famous Eiffel Tower and the Cathedral of America in Paris to conclude their European fashion tour at Paris Fashion Week. His Parisian theme, Ulana Ho’oheno – Elegance of Woven Leaves showcases Hawaiian lauhala woven fibers.
According to the latest information, the 41-man team have all arrived in Paris and have already been spotted hula dancing at the Eiffel Tower and the Arc de Triomphe. Kamoho Ali’i will speak at the American Cathedral in Paris on Friday, September 30, 2022.
The three appearances are the first time Hawaiian designers have been invited to present on these platforms.
His unique apparel, Dezigns by Kamohoalii, brings Native Hawaiians to life through traditional designs, bold colors, metaphorical imagery, and strong cultural symbolism.
At his runway show, Kamohoalii joined Hawaiian runway models (including immediate family members), Kapa Doki Doki, Chant, and award-winning vocalists Amy Hanaiali’i, Kai Nani Kahaunaele, and musician Jeff Peterson. His Harauna His Kipu’upu’u dancers perform ancient and modern dances.
According to a pre-event press release, “Kamohoalii’s Hawaiian lineage is central to his design, an art that embraces Hawaii’s natural environment and celebrates its rich heritage.”
His passion for the arts led him to study graphic design, and his family heritage in Kapa, Hawaii helped him discover his passion for fashion. Kapa, a soft bark cloth, is an artisanal tradition that dates back to ancient Hawaii and is now considered a rare art form. The process of creating kapha involves collecting bark and hitting it to loosen the fibers. The end result is an incredibly soft fabric that can be dyed to create unique looks with vibrant patterns.
According to the announcement, “Kamohoalii designs feature layers of ‘ike kuʻuna’ (traditional Hawaiian knowledge) embedded in each design.
“Our clothes are spiritual totems, they tell our history,” Kamohoalii said. “There are so many deep connections in our designs, and that is who we are. celebrates the breath of life of
By attending Fashion Week Europe, Kamohoalii said she hopes to provide insight and education into authentic Hawaiian fashion, art and culture.
Kamohoalii opened two new stores in Uptown Oahu’s Pearlridge Center and Kaneohe’s The Windward Mall.
To preview Dezigns By Kamohoaliʻi, visit www.dbkamohoalii.com.