Descending from a long line of Hawaiian artisans, Micah Kamohoali'i is a renowned kumu hula (hula teacher), traditional kapa (bark cloth) artist, and fashion designer.
Following his September 2021 New York Fashion Week success, Kamohoali'I has gone on to open two stores on O'ahu, further strengthening both his brand (Dezigns by Kamohoali) and the topic of Hawaiian fashion on an international level.
To further support the education and knowledge surrounding Hawaiian fashion, on Monday Kamohoali'I joined forces with First Nations model (and activist), Sam Harris, Managing Director of Dreamtime Southern X Aunty Margret Campbell, and Director of Regions, Māori Tourism Matt Ammunson-Fyall, to engage in an informative discussion panel and event, hosted by SXSW Sydney.
After Micah spoke on how he used - and continues to use - traditional methods and designs to create his garments, Samantha Harris talked openly about her recent experience travelling around the Hawaiian Islands and her relationship with Micah.
Not only touching on his approach to design and construction, Micah also spoke about his experience participating in New York Fashion Week and what that meant for him and his local Hawaiian community.
"There hasn't been a Hawaiian designer that has gone further than Hawaii," said Kamohoali'i.
Once the discussion concluded attending guests were privy to an exclusive fashion show featuring Micah's recent designs. Harris also walked in the events fashion show, further showing her support for the designer.
Hosted at Sydney's Pumphouse restaurant in Darling Harbour, guests were treated to a delicious Hawaiian-inspired breakfast spread featuring everything from fresh fruit to Macadamia Nut pancakes. Attending media and invitees were also invited to the event's afternoon panel, which saw the panellists discuss Indigenous tourism and the broader aspects it involves.
The afternoon panel was followed by a traditional pau hana (Hawaiian slang for happy hour/after-work drinks), to further enable and encourage guests to mingle, meet with panellists and ask or discuss any further questions.
Both panels and the fashion runway, successfully reinforced to the media and guests that Hawaiian fashion and the popularity surrounding it…is big business.
"We're not running around in grass skirts and coconut bras and living in grass huts…we actually tell our stories through fashion, they are the prints that are on our clothing," he said.
With native designers like Kamohoali'I continuing to achieve international success and influential figures and companies supporting this mission to increase the conversation around Hawaiian and Maori fashion, this realm of the industry is growing rapidly.
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