sig zane + tiffany

this weekend marks the oahu unveiling of sig zane's limited edition tiffany pendant inspired by the big island designer's patronage of moku o keawe. with only 200 pieces made it is very exclusive indeed, and, according to the star-bulletin, one can be reserved with a very generous donation to the hula foundation.

and, you don't have to stare longingly through the window à la holly golightly to catch a glimpse of the striking sterling silver pu'u lehua design since kuhao zane was kind enough to send along a peek for us to collectively ooh and ah over.

sig zane's 2008 wailani collection will also make its debut at the 22nd anniversary bash, and there will be a trunk show featuring all the latest goods to delight collectors of the iconic hawaiian design line.

• when: fri, oct 5th - 6p to 9p & sat, oct 6th - 9a to 3p
• where: outrigger reef hotel - diamond head terrace

{mahalo kuhao!}

make space for area

woo hoo! honolulu is now home to its very own mecca of mid-century goodness. if you can spot an eames a mile away, i will wager that [area] will become your new favorite space in town. the latest addition to the chinatown arts district is a time and budget crunched design lover's dream, but without the hours spent scavenging through thrift stores, curiosity shops, and craigslist ads in hopes of furnishing your place with a fabulous vintage find.

area's owners, who have a love of mid-century classics, do all the work for you by scouting the islands and mainland to uncover jilted gems that long for a little tlc. the result is a curated collection with each piece restored as close as possible to its original luster. and, if you need to add a small spark to your space, area also stocks an edited selection of one of a kind conversation pieces (loving the very cool industrial spotlight).

it's only a matter of time until one of area's offspring is spotted by lost's set designer to play background in a flashback scene.

thonet + russell wire chairs

retro phone + spotlight

the [area] showroom (indigo adjacent) is open by appointment only, however all are welcome to stop by on first friday starting with tomorrow night's grand opening kick off (hopefully with peeks of area's own in-house collection):

• when: fri, oct 5th - 5p to 10p
• where: 1111 nu'uanu avenue, no. 210

{mahalo tara!}

{update | 2011: [area] shuttered in 2009 and recently reopened as hound & quail}

maui rose

the islands have a way of jumpstarting one's creative spark and have sent more than a few souls down the unexpected path of making beautiful things. the latest translation of hawaii's lush archipelago is maui rose, a keiki line which embraces a juicy color palette straight from the crayon box.

inspired by her new surroundings of swaying coconut trees and sunshine, designer marion girardin introduced a little french charm to her children's collection of teeny totes and sweet swimwear. punchy fabrics, cheerful appliqués, embroidered details, and reversible designs complete the happy go lucky spirit.

it's pint sized goodness for little girls who love playing in their mom's closet, and i suspect more than a few grownups will be charmed by the playful and versatile designs. maui rose pockets easily double as a pretty cosmetic bag while beach totes fit all the essentials no matter what your age may be.

click here to take a peek at the collection. since an online shop is not yet available, an edited selection of maui rose goods can be scooped up here and here. when on maui, head to nuage bleu in paia or click over to the stockist list to find a shop near you.

modern wedding papers

hibiscus

brides on a budget coveting stylish invites typically have two options:

1. diy (and hope for the best)
2. beg a friend with graphic design chops to take pity on you and work their magic pro bono

a brilliant alternative is a site i stumbled upon the other day which boasts exclusive designs by some of the most sought after invitation designers, including hawaii's own kinohi designs (shown above), but with budget friendly prices.

all the paper elements necessary to throwing a memorable bash are available and most, if not all, designs come in a limited palette to help you coordinate invite colors to your event. designs tend to lean modern (with a nice selection to celebrate an island wedding) and there are a number of handy tools to streamline the ordering process.

canna

modern initials

since you can personalize text however you please, cards can easily double as party invites for those times when an evite just won't do. thank you cards can also pull double duty making either a lovely gift for the newlyweds or a sophisticated addition to your social stationary (the last issue of domino declared custom stationary is simply a must for grownups. i wonder if personalized post-it notes count?).

take a peek at wedding paper divas for more.

bliss lau fall 2007 collection

bijou

nyc-based designer bliss lau is out with her fall 07 collection. many of her exquisitely crafted leather goods mix autumn's must have rich hues (think purple, scarlet & navy) with shapes reminiscent of the islands. the bijou features an organic palm frond silhouette while the flora clutch sports an eye catching hawaiian quilt inspired cut out in which to slip your hand.

the truly fashion forward must take a peek at the latest incarnation of jewelry designed by bliss that can be worn traditionally or as a bold layering piece wrapped around your body.

flora clutch + arm candy

an edited selection of the fall collection is available online or, if you prefer an in person peek, stop by riches kahala & queens candy shop (a stockist list is also posted on the website).

fyi - lucky nyc scores their very own private sale later this week:

• when: thu, oct 4th - 6p to 10p
• where: 204 elizabeth street ll (btw prince/spring st)
• fyi - cash only