Category Archives: Fashion

Five Fresh Fashion Tips for Spring

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When thinking of spring, having a fresh start in style comes to mind! Whether you want to create a new style or re-vamp a current one, Goodwill has got you covered. It isn’t necessary to replace old clothing just because a new season has arrived, but we can add new pieces in order to refresh last season’s looks.

Here are some points to consider:

  1. Head-wear:- sun hat, turban, bowler, fedora, cap, or even a headband chain
  2. Be adventurous with your shoes! Try some flatforms, chunky heels, flats, strappy sandals (remember, shoes aren’t limited to seasons)
  3. Don’t be shy!- Experiment with prints & textures
  4. Layer, layer, layer:- layering lightly will keep you comfy and stylish
  5. Incorporate emerald, the color of the year

Of course, it’s always good to give and take a little. If you do have “trendy” pieces that you think have lost their momentum, donate them to Goodwill in order to continue the cycle and give someone else a chance to re-style themselves too! These donations will further Goodwill’s mission in helping people with employment barriers reach their full potential and become self-sufficient.

The Goodwill GLAM! Squad

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Meet Ken Leung, Director of Retail Sales at Goodwill Industries of Hawaii. He’s been at Goodwill  since August, 2002, and worked as a store manager and has held various positions within the organization leading up to his current title –  Director of Retail Sales.

When he’s not at work he enjoys Karate, traveling with his family and spending time with his dog.

Here is Ken’s article:

Last year, Goodwill Industries of Hawaii held the inaugural public awareness event titled Bank of Hawaii presents Goodwill Goes GLAM! The event was a success and much of that success was due to the volunteers.  Volunteers clocked in more than 3000 hours in support of the event-week. To learn more about the successful results of Bank of Hawaii presents Goodwill Goes GLAM! click here.

You never know where volunteering will lead you. Take for instance Olotania Alalamua.  He’s a student at Honolulu Community College and is part of the Fashion Technology program.  He started with us as a volunteer production worker because he had an eye for identifying brand named and vintage items to support the inventory goals for the GLAM! event.  Because of his good attitute and hard work, his time as a Goodwill GLAM! Squad volunteer has transitioned into a job. He is a part-time worker at Goodwill and he is learning about the production process before items reach the retail stores.

Olotania Alalamua – from Goodwill GLAM! Squad volunteer to Goodwill employee

Here are a few facts about the Goodwill GLAM! Squad and information about how you could join the squad of volunteers: The Goodwill GLAM! Squad provides opportunities for volunteers to showcase their talent while supporting a good cause.

Goodwill GLAM! Squad members modeling at the Discover Kakaako fashion show: Keala Patterson, Uthpala Walpola and Rebecca Lin

Also…

Are You A Fan Of Goodwill, Food, Fun and Fashion? if so, consider volunteering at our next event:

Click here to register to volunteer at a future event.

The Goodwill GLAM! Squad shares information about Goodwill’s mission and community impact and also provides event support for the Discover Kakaako activities. 

 

A Year of Great Windows at Goodwill

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Rene Rodriguez editing his Steampunk Fall looks in November, 2012

Creativity, a passion for design, thinking outside of the box… all essential components in visual merchandising.  Over the past year, Goodwill Industries of Hawaii’s Kaimuki store has been displaying visual treasures that can compete with the likes of Neimans and Nordstroms.  In fact, many items adorning the store mannequins are brands you’d find at those stores.

Goodwill GLAM! Squad member and visual merchandising mentor Rene Rodriguez has been leading the way in helping to create unforgettable ensembles throughout 2012.  Rene (assisted by  recent Interior Design graduate Kristina Ballina, and HCC Fashion student Olotania Alalamua) created unforgettable outfits. Many passers-by have shared with the staff that the window displays lured them into the Goodwill store.

Rene attended GIA (Gemological Institute of America) where he majored in Diamonds. He then pursued a career in the beauty industry as a make-up artist for Jon Mozo. Dubbed the eyebrow guru, Rene services both local and international clients and he’s worked for Dior and Chanel.  He was credited for co-producing the best fashion show Hawaii has ever seen  in 2010 for Susan G. Komen for the Cure (Honolulu Advertiser, Paula Rath, 2010). He’s  worked on blockbuster films such as Pirates of the Caribbean 4, Battleship and the Oscar nominated movie the Descendants.  Still doing what he loves to do, you can find Rene in Honolulu at Sanctuary Salon and view his work at http://www.runwayelite.com/.

Fall Halloween windows

Fall Steampunk windows

Winter Holiday windows

The Visual Merchandising project was an important part of Goodwill Goes GLAM! – the four-day public awarenesss event that took place at the Neal S. Blaisdell Exhibition Hall in August, 2012.  From October, 2011 to July, 2012, the items in the windows were set aside and sold at the Goodwill Goes GLAM! event.

Spring Prom windows

Summer windows:                                                                                                                               University of Hawaii at Manoa Apparel Product Merchandising & Design program – 2012 graduate designs.  Designer Anna Tomita (top left) pictured next to her design.  Looks were featured in a fashion show at Goodwill Goes GLAM!

Even after Goodwill Goes GLAM!, the Kaimuki windows continue to surprise customers with unpredictible, glamorous and imaginative ensembles on the male and female mannequins.  Proceeds from items sold support Goodwill’s 501(c)(3) non-profit mission - to help people with employment barriers to reach their full potential and become self-sufficient.  To see how your end-of-the-year donations can change a life go to http://www.higoodwill.org/gift/.

Be sure to stop by and see Rene’s creations as he continues to mentor students of fashion and Goodwill GLAM! Squad members who wish to get hands-on visual merchandising experience from an industry expert.

The Goodwill of Old Navy

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Old Navy is eco-friendly and eco-chic. Their stores on Oahu have been providing Goodwill Industries of Hawaii with hangers for almost one year. Initially, the hangers were to be used for the inaugural public awareness event Bank of Hawaii presents Goodwill Goes GLAM! a monumental event week that took place at the end of August, this year. The partnership has turned into so much more. Old Navy and Goodwill continue this eco-friendly partnership, together helping to keep items out of Hawaii’s landfills throughout the year.

From left to right: Tyler Nguyen, Thomas Thrapp, Rebecca Gutierrez (Old Navy Ala Moana General Manager), Ryan Kusumoto (Goodwill VP of Administration), Briana Sabado and Liezl Dulduao.
From left to right: Tyler Nguyen, Thomas Thrapp, Rebecca Gutierrez (Old Navy Ala Moana General Manager), Ryan Kusumoto (Goodwill’s Vice President of Administration), Briana Sabado and Liezl Dulduao.

Rebecca Gutierrez, the General Manager of Old Navy in Ala Moana shared; We are so lucky to continue our partnerships with Goodwill and help support Goodwill Goes GLAM!. I feel so fortunate that we are able to work with an organzation that helps to keep 13 million pounds outside of our landfills. Through our partnership we were able to recycle thousands of hangers and rally more than 20 volunteers to help out at their GLAM! event. We are so thankful for our partnership and having the chance to give back!

For the last two years, Tyson Joines has been an instrumental part of Old Navy’s fashion show during Fashion’s Night Out. His styling highlights the playful elegance and simplicity of the Old Navy signature looks of the season.  Tyson Joines was a stylist mentor representing the Goodwill Goes Green segment featuring repurposed items from Goodwill designed by 2012 graduates from the UH Manoa APDM department at Goodwill Goes GLAM! in August. Here are a few shots from the Old Navy fashion show (Sepember 6, 2012) courtesy of Nonstophonolulu.com photographer Jonas Maon.

Photos by Jonas Maon of Nonstophonolulu.com – Old Navy Fashion Show – Fashion’s Night Out 2012

Four of the models (Rhonee Rojas, Morgan Clark, Katie Daly and Neka Stephens) that were featured in the Old Navy Fashion’s Night Out Fashion Show were also featured in the Elements of Goodwill Fashion Show at Goodwill Goes GLAM!  They are part of Goodwill’s GLAM Squad of talented volunteers.

The beautiful and bright Stacey Snee, Mrs. Hawaii 2012 was the emcee of the fashion show.  The magic behind the scenes was led by Tyson Joines and assisted by Dayna Kalakau. The key hair and make-up artist was Lorena Morallo Takushi.  Also on the talented team of hair and make-up artists were Aisha Bretz-Reese, Aloha Ilean Taulani, Marissa Deponte, Paulette Kitchell Fukumoto, Natalie Kim, Mel Mariano, Jr. and Mei of Salon Mei.

Photos by Jonas Maon of Nonstophonolulu.com – Behind the scenes of the Old Navy Fashion Show

Goodwill appreciates Old Navy’s ongoing support.  Goodwill’s 501(c)(3) non-profi mission is to help people with employment barriers to reach their full potential and become self-sufficient.

Glam Spotlight – Magnificent Manolo’s

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Mad about Manolo Blahnik - the two fab pairs of shoes were at the Kaimuki Goodwill store and will be sold at Goodwill Goes GLAM

Mad about Manolo Blahnik – the two fab pairs of heels were at the Kaimuki Goodwill store and will be sold at Bank of Hawaii presents Goodwill Goes GLAM (Aug. 23-26, 2012)

How were you first introduced to the iconic designer, Manolo Blahnik? Are you a fashion purest – basically born knowing this designer’s work? Did Carrie Bradshaw Sex & The City columnist do the honors?

Carrie's Wedding Pump. Photo courtesy of http://www.queensandbowl.com/blog/tag/carrie-bradshaw/

Carrie’s Wedding Pump. Photo courtesy of www.queensandbowl.com

Or was it thanks to the  Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn film, where Bella Swan wears Manolo Blahnik pumps for her wedding.

The Swan Pump. Photo courtesy of http://kstewartnews.com/2011/11/21/manolo-blahnik-neiman-marcus-introduce-the-swan-pump/

The Swan Pump. Photo courtesy of www.kstewartnews.com

No matter how you were introduced, I’d like to introduce you to the two pairs of heels pictured above that I found on the shelves. waiting to be adored, at the Kaimuki Goodwill store.  Perhaps you’re the right fit for the shoe.  Find out at this summer’s Ultimate Shopping event called – Bank of Hawaii Presents Goodwill Goes GLAM! The GLAM! Sale is open to the public August 24-26, 2012 at the Blaisdell Exhibition Hall.  But you may want to check out the Pre-Sale to have first access to some of the fab finds.  The Goodwill Gala & VIP Pre-sale takes place on August 23, 2012 – click here to learn more about the exclusive VIP Fast Pass waiting list.

Meet the Magnificent Manolo Blahnik:

(Excerpt from Wikipedia) Born to a Czech father and a Spanish mother and raised in the Canary Islands (Spain), Blahnik graduated from the University of Geneva in 1965 and studied art in Paris. He moved to London in 1968 to work at fashion boutique “Zapata” and wrote for Vogue Italia. After showing his portfolio of fashions and set designs to Diana Vreeland, she told him that he should design only footwear. In 1972, Ossie Clark invited him to create shoes for his runway show. With a loan of £2,000, Blahnik bought Zapata from its owner and opened his own boutique.

In the 1970s, when chunky platform shoes and boots were the mainstream footwear styling of the day, Manolo Blahnik turned back his attention to the stiletto heel, which has remained the brand’s mainstay to this day. Manolo Blahnik shoes have rapidly become a symbol of pure classical style for the 21st century.

Manolo Blahnik’s flagship store remains to date in Old Church Street in the fashionable Chelsea district of London.

Blahnik’s boutiques are located in London, New York, Las Vegas, Dublin, Athens, Madrid, Istanbul, Dubai, Kuwait, Hong Kong, Seoul, Singapore and Stockholm.  Bloomingdales (for which he created his first American collection), Nordstrom, Neiman Marcus, Barneys, Bergdorf Goodman and Saks Fifth Avenue carry his line in the United States and newly opened in Dubai Mall. The company has signed a long-term deal with the shoewear retailer Kurt Geiger to operate Manolo Blahnik boutiques.

Blahnik was awarded the honorary title of Commander of the British Empire in 2007 for his service to the British fashion industry

Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA)

1997 – The Stiletto

1990 – Accessory Designer of the Year

1987 – Special Award

British Fashion Council

1999 – Accessory Designer of the Year

1990 – Accessory Designer of the Year