Contrast Magazine

I love this new Free People’s May 2013 look book. It’s an amazing mixture of their usual boho look, with the perfect amount of edginess. This may be my favorite so far!

Lindsey

The Met Gala is an annual ball held at the Metropolitan Museum that celebrates the fashion exhibit at the Costume Institute. Hosted by Vogue, this event is attended by celebrities and fashion icons worldwide! This year’s exhibition theme was Punk: Chaos to Couture. These are some of my fave looks, but Anne Hathaway definitely swept everyone away with her chic, but gothic look. She totally took me by surprise by stepping out of her comfort zone..and I wish I could wear that dress everywhere.

-Lindsey

Sun Bum hangs out in Hawaii with ROAM, a unique company started by four local girls who created a rad mobile marketplace of handmade, one-of-a-kind pieces.
For more visit Trustthebum.com and RoamHawaii.com

Tickets for the 2013 Wearable Art Show are now available for sale. Eight native Hawaiian designers—Hina, Kini Zamora, Maile Andrade, Manuheali`i, Marques Marzan, Lauwa`e, Puamana Crabbe, and Wahine Toa—will debut their original designs and creations on Wednesday, May 22 at the Hawai`i Theatre.

Enjoy an evening of art, fashion and entertainment as artists and cultural practitioners showcase both traditional and contemporary garments and jewelry. The show starts at 7:00 pm with doors opening at 5:30 p.m. Guests are encouraged to come early for the silent auction and stay late for a trunk show at The Venue following the Wearable Art Show. For tickets, call the Hawai`i Theatre Box Office at (808) 528-0506 or go online to www.hawaiitheatre.com.

The Wearable Art Show is part of the 8th Annual Maoli Arts Month (MAMo), a two-month long celebration showcasing over 52 native Hawaiian artists, designers, painters, weavers, photographers, carvers and more.

MAMo also recognizes mixed media artist, Maile Andrade, as the recipient of the 2013 MAMo Award for her skills as a native Hawaiian master artist.

“Maile Andrade has dedicated her life to perpetuating her artistic practice and sharing her love for art with the next generation,” said PA`I founder, Vicky Holt Takamine. “She has taken traditional Hawaiian designs and patterns as inspiration and applied it to her contemporary designs in fashion and jewelry and PA`I celebrates Maile on her many accomplishments.”

Presented by the PA`I Foundation and the Bishop Museum, the eighth annual MAMo is a broad community-based effort to celebrate the depth, breadth, and diversity of the Native Hawaiian arts community to create economic opportunities for Native Hawaiian artists and cultural practitioners. By increasing their presence in museums and galleries, awareness will increase as we bridge Native Hawaiian cultural principles and values about Native Hawaiian art within our community and beyond the shores of our ancestral home.

Interview by Kai Casey

Brooke Dombroski
Photographer/Designer
URL:brooklynhawaii.com

Kai: When did you first become interested in photography?

Brooke: Shooting as a child. I started when I was eleven or twelve. I think that time period really stands out for me because that was when I first started to take pictures of people. I learned on film. I loved goofing off with my little camera, and just seeing what I could capture. I found a fascination in documenting everyday life. Nothing special; just hanging out with friends and stuff like that. From there I felt comfortable with that craft and equipment. It somehow evolved into a career. I thought I could never turn it into something like this, so I guess I’ve been pretty lucky.

What influences do your travels have on your photography?

I just recently started traveling, within the past few years. I think that it does have an influence on the way I perceive the person I’m shooting, and the surroundings. I used to mostly focus on portraiture and the person themselves, and not really incorporate the location as much. I think now that I’ve been traveling, I have a new appreciation for backgrounds; things like landscapes and seascapes. It’s also been nice to meet interesting people that shoot from different parts of the world. I enjoy learning from them, shooting with them, and just being with them. It’s kind of broadened the way I compose a picture, but I still think I have the same aesthetic. It’s been nice to just learn new things and meet new people.

Where is your favorite place to shoot?
I love shooting in Tahiti. It’s ridiculous. It looks straight out of a postcard. I also feel that home is where I’m comfortable. I just love to shoot in Hawai’i. Anywhere in Hawai’i, really. I know it and am confident in it, that way I can show it off the best. A lot of different places have been picturesque, but home is always nice.

Why do you think film is gaining popularity amongst young photographers?

I see it to be kind of a trend right now. I think it’s good to go back to the fundamentals of photography. People are learning where it came from. Really anyone could pick up a [digital] camera and start to shoot away, so it’s nice that people are recognizing the roots of it all, and realizing how people did it back in the day. I think the iPhone contributed towards the movement; the whole obsession in making things look “retro” or “vintage” had an impact. I think it’s nice that young people can dabble in it. It’s definitely not the same as developing on your own, though.

Who would you love to photograph?

I do a lot of moody portraits and swimwear, so I’d love to shoot a Victoria Secret model or someone similar. They embody everything I love to shoot. A Victoria Secret model would be rad.

A couple of years ago, one of my best friends, Tiare Lawrence, 30, decided to open a women’s boutique called, Otaheite Hawaii, in Wailea and I was baffled. Before her venture into fashion, I knew Tiare as the gnarly water woman that Stand-Up Paddle surfed double-overhead Makaha Point as the surrogate niece of the Keaulana Family. Even before her pro SUP career with C4 Waterman and Honey Girl, she was my professional hula dancer friend that made tons of dough dancing in Japan, and also performed aerial acrobatics for ‘Ulalena. I always thought of her as the “Hawaiian Super Woman” because she was multi talented and also very saavy with her finances and property investments.

After putting her competitive dancing, surfing and traveling behind her, she guided ocean tours in Makena and started a family at home in Maui. Despite giving birth to two children, Tiare was still a picture of Polynesian athleticism to me so when she spoke of starting a clothing line and opening a boutique I was surprised. After being friends for 13 years, I can safely say that my initial shock at Tiare’s entrepreneurial endeavor stemmed from my ignorance.

Today, Otaheite Hawaii is on the rise in Wailea, and their designs are piquing the interests of locals and visitors alike. The brand’s latest Wana designs are a testament to their growth and potential. Tiare and I got to hang out—and drink like it was the old days—at this past Merrie Monarch and we got to talk story about Otaheite Hawaii, the brand’s history and the new designs. She was always doing incredible things as a professional athlete and dancer, but as an entrepreneur and fashion designer I’m excited to see the amazing things she will do in the very near future.

Daniel: What is the history of the Otaheite Hawaii brand?

Tiare: My father John Lawrence was the original owner of Otaheite. He opened his first store on Front Street in Lahaina and eventually expanded Otaheite stores to Kahului, Ala Moana and California. He had a fascination with Polynesia and was known for his unique Polynesian-inspired prints. He made men’s aloha wear, surf shorts and women’s dresses and bikinis.

Who was your guiding light with opening the boutique?

My father, John Lawrence, although he’s no longer here he still continues to inspire me and pursue my business ventures.

When did you know you wanted to pursue design and put your competitive surfing and paddling days behind you?

After the birth of my daughter three years ago I became a stay-at-home mom for 15 months. During that time I had a lot of time to reflect on my life and decide what it is I wanted to do. I’ve always had a passion for clothing design and with my love of the ocean I decided a beach chic clothing line would be a great creative outlet.

Where is your boutique located and why is it an ideal retail space?

Otaheite Hawaii is currently located at the Wailea Gateway Center. I felt that Wailea would be a great place to start because of the resorts. It’s an ideal location at Wailea Gateway because of the two anchor restaurants. Monkeypod Kitchen and Pita Paradise are great neighbors and have a strong tourist and local following.

My girlfriend is really stoked on Otaheite’s most recent collection with the wana print. What is the inspiration behind that design?

Prior to becoming a mom, I worked as an outdoor pursuit manager for Makena Resort. I would take guests out on canoe tours every morning. During my tours I would dive for wana ula’ula. The tourists were always fascinated with wana and so was I. Therefore, I decided to do a wana print. My logo image for my company is also a wana. Although this line was not formally named, the inspiration for the print hold true to native sea life and plants.

Who do you think would best rock the wana print?

I think any woman who has a passion for the ocean and love supporting local designers will best rock the wana print.

Why should people support local brands like Otaheite?

Supporting local brands like Otaheite shows mainstream fashion designers that local designers can put a fashionable product out there for many to benefit from and enjoy. And look awesome, too. Yet, maintaining an island feel.

Is there anything else you would like to add?

I desire for many to enjoy my current line and hopefully many more lines to follow in the coming seasons.

Otaheite Hawaii from ha'akeaulana on Vimeo.

If Zara opened up in Hawaii we’d all be broke. You men included! Just trying not to die over the overalls….HAH

-Lindsey

I woke up this morning to a text to check out Saturday.com, and it totally made my week. What I call my favorite “candy store,” Kate Spade, has launched their new line Saturday. Saturday features fun, versatile, and functional clothing and accessories that are more affordable for all of us! The prints and colors are just as fun as Kate Spade, but the silhouettes and styles are more perfect for everyday wear. I’m already waiting on 2 awesome dresses to head my way, hopefully in time for Coachella! Check it out!

-linz

Some of my fave shots of Miss Alexandra Spencer, the woman behind the famous blog 4th and Bleeker. Basically, she’s the shit.

pics via Oyster Mag

-linz

If you want to look like a steezy Iron Lung and scoop a stoney-dime piece on April 20th then you better cop this Vault by Vans creative Palm Checker pack designed by Taka Hayashi. The mid-top moccasin-inspired TH Cornice LX resurfaces alongside Taka’s newest creation, the TH Revere Hi LX, in the forthcoming Vault release. The TH Revere Hi LX reapproaches the vintage athletic sneaker aesthetic from a Vans perspective, integrating the Sk8-Hi form into its design.

The Palm Checker motif pairs each silhouette with two of Vans most prominent prints; lateral quarter paneling exhibits the archived Palm Leaf pattern while medial panels reveal the iconic checkerboard. Refined suede uppers, Horween leather ankle collars and embroidered Taka Hayashi tongue branding complete the Vault by Vans x Taka Hayashi Palm Checker pack for delivery this April at key Vault accounts. While Taka was inspired by the palm trees for this pack, we all know what the design really looks like…wink, wink…cough, cough.