fighting eel summer 2008

puka

a quick peek of fighting eel's summer 08 collection is sure to perk up those monday blues. fe continues to reinterpret island style with updates on the flirty designs that have become a staple in closets from hawaii to hollywood. i am loving fe's more modern approach to tropical which takes aloha friday to a whole new level of sophisticatio, and a sweet nod to the lushness of the designers' hometown paradise can be found in the rainbow of colors saturating the collection.

corsica

anouck

sienna

and, a simple twist in foolproof jersey is perfect for the beach bound island bride who prefers to say i do in a pretty silhouette versatile enough to be worn after the wedding day.

p.s. the fe atelier is now open to the public on thursdays so when in chinatown stop in and browse past collections which have been marked down 30 to 80% off.

• when: every thu & fri - 10a to 5p
• where: 47 north hotel street
• fyi: cash & credit cards only

chinatown boardroom

since its doors opened last year, and after many failed attempts, my trip home over the holidays finally presented a chance to step inside the chinatown boardroom. with a row of candy colored custom surfboards and rotating art exhibits featuring emerging island artists, the small space packs a restrained yet visual punch reflecting the style of its thirtysomething owners eric (resident surfboard shaper) & jackie walden.

the space is reminiscent of something you would expect to find in sf or seattle with everything from street art to surf photography mixed with artist designed tees (jewelry lovers take note: tucked away in a corner is a glass case filled with the delicate creations of local designers justine jones and rona marie). the result is a fresh and youthful vibe that was missing in the neighborhood's gallery scene.

be sure to stop by on the third thursday of the month when chinatown boardroom hosts the surf discussion series. next up: living the dream (mar 20th).

• where: 1160 nu'uanu avenue
• hours: tue to sat, 11a to 4p

{update | oct 2012: alas, chinatown boardroom closed its doors earlier this year. mahalo eric & jackie for creating such a wonderful space for local artists and designers. good luck on your next adventure!}

hinu jewelry

circle ring * wire shell * sunrise shell locket * small disc

years and years ago, jennifer binney of hinu jewelry was one of the first local designers to land on the radar of style glossies nationwide, and, by doing so, helped to establish that the islands had more to offer than just bikinis and aloha shirts.

jennifer employs a mix of traditional techniques from hand pounding metals to casting molds of ocean objects found while beachcombing. whether hinu's treasures from the sea shine even brighter or look like they have been tumbling in the waves for eons, all of the pieces retain a soulful hand hewn look which is the mark of being crafted by a true artisan.

until now, hinu was only available at aloha rag and cupcake but the launch of the online boutique means you can shop the entire collection from puka shell bangles to custom discs (available in xs to large and waxes poetic via antique letterpress keys) no matter where you call home.

in addition to the online shop, you can take a peek at hinu's designs at coral loft (open by appointment only), the studio work space in chinatown that jennifer opened with her designer pals last year.

fighting eel spring/summer 2008

joey

the spring 08 collection from honolulu's fighting eel is posted online for your viewing pleasure. say hello to springtime with a juicy pop of color!

juliet

kate

pieces from the upcoming summer 08 collection which is rocking a subtle tie dye can also be previewed on their website. the s/s collection is not yet in stores so you may want to keep the stockist list handy.

by the way, if you haven't stopped by fe headquarters yet, this is a must for your "to do" list especially if you love a good bargain. the airy chinatown loft is filled with fe's signature super comfy jersey dresses and pieces from past collections are typically marked down 30% to 50%. and, if the stars are aligned, designers lan & rona just may be around to help you find the right dress.

rona marie's eponymous jewelry collection can also be found in the showroom.

• when: every friday, 10a to 5p
• where: 47 north hotel street (a few doors down from thirtyninehotel)

fighting eel spring/summer 2007

spring 07 adara + summer 07 paris

spring is getting closer which means more wearable dresses to covet in the new collections from fighting eel. i am loving the empire waist and clean lines of fe's adara dress. of course, if you prefer something slightly more provocative take a peek at what's in store for those sultry summer evenings . . .

no online shopping at fe's website yet however click over to active endeavors, lalala or rafael hawaii to shop to your heart's content.

or, even better, friday brings a one day sale at fe's chinatown headquarters with pieces from past collections marked down to $30, $50 & $70!

details:

• when: fri, mar 2nd - 10a to 6p
• where: fe headquarters - 47 north hotel street
• fyi: cash only!