Kento Yamashita | Intern Reporter
fashion show pomahina Designs, a wearable art company that embraces culture, Promotions — Celebrating the journey from indigenous peoples to fashion.Pacific.
pomahina Founded by Kanoelani Davis of Molokai, design travels the globe with its cultural message. in September, pomahina showcases Hawaiian culture at London Pacific Fashion Week. This year will be Davis’ second year at Fashion Week, his third fashion show in London, and also his fashion show for charity at Wesley’s Chapel and Rathian Mission in London. pomahina It will also be featured at the MAMo Wearable Art Show in Maui in October, as well as other events to be announced soon.
Davis’s collection this year is called Haumea and features designs such as Kani Ka Wi, Namakaokahai and Hi’iaka.
In addition to fashion shows, pomahina Designs were also published in Swanky Magazine. The magazine is based in Dublin, Ireland. her work is now Hawaii, London, England, New Zealand, Tahiti, Morocco, Dubai and most recently Ireland.
pomahina It became a part-time venture for Davis, a single mother of four, in 2011 and launched the company full-time in 2015.the basis of pomahina Design is all about preserving the historic names of elements, keeping our culture alive and preserving it for generations to come. By tying it to “Aina and Kai,” she seeks to unite Hawaiian cultural traditions through modern design. You said you have a deep understanding.
“…by understanding how we affect communities, how we affect Native Hawaiians, and how we affect humanity,” Davis said.
Alongside fashion shows and elegant events pomahina The design has worked on many projects at We care about the health and well-being of Native Hawaiians. One of them is the Pono’i Project.
The Pono’i project aims to strengthen the identity of indigenous youth. Working with Ho’aka Mana, a Native Hawaiian organization, with two youths and an education team that includes her Davis, Mahealani Ahia and Maile Biddle.Two young people will participate through international travel and a curriculum created by Davis pomahina Designed in London.Davis said the aim of the project is to understand the history of how Britain influenced and inspired monarchical regalia such as King Kalakaua, Queen Liliuokalani and Princess Kaiulani. not only to indigenous The idea of creating a perspective while using Western concepts.
“I want to talk about how it has influenced and shaped many monarchies here in Hawaii, and I can talk about how Hawaiians are inspired through fashion. It’s okay to take inspiration from the outside world and bring it in,” Davis explained. “How can we integrate without losing our identity?”
Running a business being from Molokai can be challenging for a number of reasons. The technology, or just going to the store and picking up tools for a broken machine, can be difficult, he says, Davis. It takes a lot of hard work and creativity.
“There is one thing I can count on because I am from Molokai. Witty,” she laughed.
Davis encourages others to be resourceful, start small businesses, and fear not.
She credits social media with helping her share and spread her work. in Pomahina big message.
“Without social media, people at London Fashion Week, New York Fashion Week, Paris Fashion Week would never see me, from Dubai, Morocco, anywhere in the world where I have clothes. she said.
She explained that social media can be best used when understood as “a place to inspire, create, build and sustain the future of business.”
Find Pomahina Designs’ social media updates during our trip in London in mid-September.
