jools summer 2008

turquoise square * mojave cluster & ring * patina cuff

the summer 08 collection from jools (hilo girl/la-based designer sybil shimazu's jewelry line) recently made its debut. the collection hits all the high spots of the season with bold cocktail rings and bright pops of colors mingling with the line's ever present romantic filigree designs.

hand hammered gold has been transformed into delicate shapes while pink coral, green mojave turquoise, and other offerings from mother nature hint of journeys taken to faraway lands.

gold circle * coral vine * mojave teardrops * scroll ring

the handcrafted designs are available 24/7 in the online shop or take a peek at the growing shop list to locate your neighborhood stockist.

paradisus kapa collection

ka pilina earrings + niho cuff

it's been far too long since i last checked in with paradisus and i was happy to discover the mother and daughter design team have begun to collaborate with sonny ching to create a collection named after the renowned kumu hula. the kapa series is the first to make its debut and traces its roots to hawaiian kakau (tattoo) and 'ohe kapala (the bamboo stamps used to print kapa).

anyone who appreciates the beauty of traditional hawaiian design is sure to fancy the sterling silver pieces marked with distinctive designs celebrating hawaiian culture. the 411 on each pattern gives you a fascinating glimpse into the meaning of the geometric designs featured throughout the kapa collection.

ka makaloa pendant + kukulu-o-ka-lani cufflinks

the sonny ching collection is available in the paradisus online shop or take a peek at the stockist list.

click rewind to learn more about paradisus.

golden girls

skip the trinkets and gift mom with jewelry that will be passed down for generations to come.

1 - catherine weitzman offers up a coral bangle fabricated of delicate gold vermeil.

2 - gold leaf earrings by molokai designer carol klein whisper understated tropical style (click over to maui hands for online shopping).

3 - la-based designer sybil shimazu conjures up a lacy flower filigree ring for her jools collection.

4 - pretty meditations compliments of jason dow's lotus lavalier necklace.

surfing with wings

palapalai wrap + bling wing

it's been a lot of fun watching wings hawaii making ever bigger waves over these past couple of years from their beginnings as a small women-owned style collective creating sweet handprinted tees and handcrafted jewelry in their maui studio to the opening of a wings boutique in haiku last year.

2008 is off to a wonderful start with designer samantha howard's jewelry collection getting some love in this year's sports illustrated swimsuit issue (take a peek at the subtle variation of sam's bling wing design which is pierced by hand to retain a one of a kind style).

the other big news is that the wings website recently received a pretty makeover and the new online shop is filled with fresh interpretations of the happy go lucky designs that add a little island spark to everyday basics. even better is the introduction of eco-friendly fabrics like organic cotton and recycled polyester which is a welcome addition to the product mix.

shell hoodie + mermaid full circle

take a peek at the stockist list or stop by the boutique and say hello!

• where: 375 west kuiaha road, haiku
• hours: mon to fri, 9a to 4p & sat/sun, 9a to 1p

haute fox tales

rays of silver

sometimes out of frustration comes a new calling which is the story of manoa jewelry designer fox lach who started out making jewelry for herself in response to the dreaded fashion emergency. with a little boost of encouragement from friends and family, fox began exploring new techniques and styles which eventually developed into her very own collection.

while her haute fox jewelry line may be a recent arrival to the island style scene, the former seattle resident made hawaii home nine years ago eventually settling down in the familiar rainy valleys of manoa. fox shapes each piece in her collection by hand utilizing techniques learned in local jewelry classes and brings the islands into play via little details like matching a stone to a blazing sunset or reinterpreting the gentle waves of the sea into something more wearable.

getting hammered

orb weavers

haute fox's etsy shop is currently offering a complimentary pair of earrings with every necklace order (convo fox for details). fox will also be setting up a trunk show during allure's earth day cut-a-thon next week to raise money for the surfrider foundation's oahu chapter. it's a win-win all around with you getting a jumpstart on mother's day or graduation gifting combined with the warm fuzzy feeling that 40% of your purchase will go to help protect hawaii's oceans.

• when: mon, apr 21st - 11a to 4p
• where: allure, 2801 east manoa road
• fyi - score $20 haircuts during the cut-a-thon (call salon to schedule an appt)

click over to the haute fox blog for a peek behind-the-scenes.