LIHUE — Barbara Green of Definitely Baba had her hands full Sunday watching the steady stream of Kauai models flash design after design while taking measurements from other cast members at a space provided by the Kukui Grove Center adjacent to the Kauai Society of Artists gallery.
Outside, a flock of parents and shoppers collected, drawn by the Kauai Fashion Weekend bling and the clean audio for models.
“I like this,” said Green, who formerly worked on designing terno, a formal Filipino fashion gown. “Every girl wants to be a princess. Designing material for youth and the Belle-inspired fashion gives me a lot of options to work with. The sky’s the limit.”
The Sunday practice leads up to the sixth annual Kauai Fashion Weekend June 23 at the Kauai Marriott Resort and Beach Club gala where tickets are available for either the special three-course dinner and show or for the show only.
“This is an alternative to mixed martial arts,” said Vance Pascua of Ainofea designs. “I just sit back and imagine what would look nice on people, what would look nice in something I would wear.”
Pascua was watching Sha Ali Ahmad of Ahmad Couture, one of the KFW co-founders, silently move the course of models touting the MMA-inspired designs along the imaginary catwalk.
“Once I get the idea, I just kind of put it all together, piece by piece,” Pascua said. “This is the result.”
The MMA-inspired designs as well as the youth and Belle-inspired gowns are part of the new offerings for the 2018 KFW gala, said Edie Ignacio Neumiller of the KFW committee.
“Friday, Marynel Valenzuela, one of the KFW co-founders, will be doing a boot camp on the event at the Kauai Film Academy location from 7 p.m.,” Ignacio Neumiller said. “They asked KFW if we could do this to talk more about the fashion industry.”
Adding to the June 23 gala, Ignacio Neumiller said the Kauai Fashion Weekend has a Women of Empowerment segment where 18 women from the community will be showing off fashion from Macy’s at the Kukui Grove Center. Other features from the gala include a Step and Repeat Banner for photos, a special door prize giveaway, a Las Vegas ticket giveaway, and Sweetheart Tables for Two.
Information: www.kauaifashionweekend.com, or InkSpot Printing.
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Dennis Fujimoto, staff writer and photographer, can be reached at 245-0453 or dfujimoto@thegardenisland.com.
Great article! Very excited for KFW!
That every girl wants to be a princess is not true. I want to be king of all creation. I, however, do not qualify for the job. And I’m happy being me and being a princess has never been a part of that. Too many princesses around who feel the world owes them everything.