Budding fashion designers put their petal to the mettle

By Paula Rath
Advertiser Staff Writer

At Les Fleurs Couture in Kahala Mall, UH fashion students Glenn Ishii and Shantel Musick won an award for this floral peacock, created on a wrought iron mannequin using live flowers. Eugene Tanner • The Honolulu Advertiser

The contest offered 11 teams of fashion students from UH-Manoa the opportunity to interpret spring attire, giving it their contemporary tweak.

Inspiration came from Shakespeare's "A Midsummer Night's Dream," wedding fantasies and the edgy clash of high tech and high fashion.

Students used flower petals as their thread and full blooms, donated by Flowers & Fun, as their fabric, to create whimsical bustiers, va-va-voom dresses, romantic wedding gowns and unexpected accessories.

It was a break from the students' mad dash to design, cut and sew garments for their final exams and senior fashion show, planned for April 27.

Les Fleurs Couture creations were displayed on three types of mannequins: full-size plastic and either fake-turf or wrought-iron busts.

Four hours were allotted for the creation and assembly of the floral "couture."

The enterprising students have now turned their attentions toward an alternative fashion show scheduled for 7 tonight in UH-Manoa's Hemenway Hall, and their sold-out senior show, "Fashionation," April 27 at the Sheraton Waikiki Hotel.