Island clothing company expands line

By Paula Rath
Advertiser Staff Writer

Kekoa Kaluhiwa wears a honu shirt ($52) and Malia Morales is in a Manila palms pants suit ($89). Gregory Yamamoto • The Honolulu Advertiser

Now owner/designer Andrea Weymouth-Fujie is expanding into two new design territories: plus-size women's daywear and men's shirts.

Double Paws for Him is a line of 100 percent cotton men's aloha shirts in a button-down style with a boxy, relaxed cut and classic detailing. Colors for the initial run are moss, sky and sand. Sizes are M to XXL. They sell for $52. Double Paws for Curves is a ladies plus-size line.

Weymouth-Fujie has created many custom dresses for her plus-size customers over the years. This enabled her to build a grading (sizing) system based on a range of real women's bodies. She has adjusted for curves and roundness, with deeper armholes and dropped crotch seams. Dolman sleeves and back vents also make the garments body friendly, especially for those with "apple" shapes.

The initial collection comes in high-tech poly/cotton piques in black and navy. Soon to come: royal, red and maroon. Sizes range from L/XL to XXXXL, the equivalent of 16 to 28. Dresses and pant sets sell for $89.

Though Double Paws Wear has traditionally been an all-knit line, in the works for fall is a collection of print woven cottons mixing three complementary fabrics on each dress. Bodies will be slightly A-line with scoop necklines and sleeve darts. Colors for the fall collection will be sage, copper and taupe. Vests will coordinate with the dresses.

Double Paws Wear will continue its signature large-scale surface designs derived from hand-cut silkscreens in Hawaiian motifs. The latest include Manila palm, honu (turtle) and laua'e fern. Designs are screened onto garment pieces after they are cut to ensure the most striking — and flattering — graphic placement.