Governor's Fashion Awards offer some surprises

By Paula Rath
Advertiser Staff Writer

Local designer Mamo Howell's bare-to-there-fashions were showstoppers. Photo by Brad Goda Manufacturers, retailers honored This year's Manufacturer of the Year awards, recognizing exemplary performance in the areas of innovation and leadership in design; contribution to the industry in employment, programs and promotions; community contributions; and success as a manufacturer, went to: Traditional (aloha attire): Princess Kaiulani Fashions Contemporary (career/resort attire): You & Me Naturally Unique/Lifestyle: The Custom Co. General Retailer and Specialty Retailer of the Year awards went to: Specialty: Moonbow Tropics General: Food Pantry Ltd. The event was put on by the Retail Merchants of Hawai'i.

The runway also offered its share of nostalgia and homespun fun.

The show-stopper was a new collection by Mamo Howell, who pulled out all the stops with fashions that were anything but ho-hum.

The latest two-color print is a combination of black with an electrifying royal blue, Pele red or subtle celery. Gone is the crisp look of previous Mamo prints. These drape and swirl around the body, clinging in all the right places.

Styles include bias-cut dresses with curvy ruffles and handkerchief hems, a Versace-esque halter neck dress with plunging sides, back and a revealing front slit, and a sexy take on the ao dai (Vietnamese traditional dress, usually worn over pants). For the slightly more conservative, there's a tunic over sheer palazzo pants.

Mamo said she's planning to take the collection to Neiman Marcus in hopes of gaining entry into the halls of haute fashion, and met with store reps yesterday.

Reyn Spooner offered a nostalgic, crowd-pleasing nod to the past, showing vintage garments from the 1950s, '60s and '70s. White sharkskin, palaka, Parker Ranch cattle logos, Alfred Shaheen art and Marimekko-like prints generated chuckles and tweaked memories throughout the audience.

Theme shirts included automotive motifs, James Dean, USC and New York Yankees. Styles were reminders of the past: bush jackets, bowling shirts, Roy Rogers cowboy cuts and rice-sack shorts.

In honor of its 50th year in business, Iolani Sportswear also revisited retro prints, juxtaposing them with fresh, bright florals in coral, blue and celadon.

Also celebrating 50 years is Robert J. Clancy, whose mother-daughter sundresses in soft peach were audience pleasers.

Tori Richard's latest designs have a Paris-in-the-spring feel, with jackets in art-inspired prints, wrap tops, kicky skirts and little tees and capris in preppy prints.

You and Me Naturally offered both sheer, chiffon-layered looks and crisp white jackets over tiny tube tops and body-hugging capris.

Receiving the Ka 'Ahu No'eau Lifetime Achievement Award was Tim McCullough, president and CEO of Reyn Spooner, a family-owned local business.

First Hawaiian Bank presented its Power of Yes award to Crazy Shirts.