Students with passion for fashion ready for runway

By Paula Rath
Advertiser Fashion Writer

Tara Chanel-Thompson instructs the students who will model in the Honolulu Community College fashion show on the layout of the walkway and stage for the show at the Hilton Hawaiian Village. Photos by Eugene Tanner • The Honolulu Advertiser

Aliya Peer undergoes a final fitting to a button bra designed and made by Jay Sario, right. Sario's "Boyet" collection is inspired by designers Anna Sui and Betsey Johnson.

'An International Affair' Sunday: Doors open at 11:30 a.m., lunch at noon, fashion show at 1 p.m. Hilton Hawaiian Village Hotel, Coral Ballroom $28 lunch and show (show only is $10 general, $5 students with ID standing in back 845-9203

Now, as he puts the finishing touches on 11 garments for his final fashion show at Honolulu Community College, the young man from the Philippines who came to the Islands at age 17 and attended Mililani High School talks with confidence tinged with uncertainty about his future.

Sario began as a student in fine art, but even with a scholarship he couldn't pay the rent, so he had to drop out. He returned to Hawai'i and studied fashion design at HCC. He was restless and dropped out to go to San Francisco, where he worked in visual merchandising at Gap. When he returned to HCC last September, the timing was right, inspiration struck and he caught fire.

His collection, which he is calling "Boyet," his family nickname, is edgy and chic, inspired by Anna Sui and Betsey Johnson. Details include meticulous hand embroidery, elaborate beading and hand-made deconstructed flowers. Acid green prints are paired with black georgette and pinstripe wool. His muse: "A Size 2 girl who's fun and confident and has a sense of fierceness."

"Jay's a nonstop worker and never tires," said instructor Joy Nagaue. "Like most of our students, Jay works at least 30 hours a week and still comes to school. Life is rough for these students," she said admiringly.

"When he came back this semester, the class was full and there were no sewing machines. He brought his grandmother's machine every day to school," Nagaue said.

Sario plans to take his line to San Francisco, where he will collaborate with friend Kelly Pak, a University of Hawai'i-Manoa fashion graduate.

Suzi Vogler of 'Aiea owned a Korean barbeque restaurant in Pearlridge. Although she has always loved fashion, she had never sewn a stitch until she started studying at HCC. After five semesters, she is sewing slinky evening gowns she calls "red carpet looks." Next semester she plans to attend the HCC cosmetology program. Her goal? To do complete makeovers for women.

The plus-size woman is Sina Samuela's target. The Waipahu up-and-coming designer's line, "Ghetto Phat," comes in sizes 18-24. "It's hard to find nice clothing when you're a plus size, and I'm tired of peasant tops," she moaned. She designed a sexy line to show off curves, with short skirts, on-shoulder tops and lots of cleavage. Samuela would like to study merchandising at UH-Manoa.

Kaliko Fukumoto of Red Hill was inspired by the ballet; however, her multilayered tulle skirts in pretty pastels have a funky edge. She hopes to go on to design school in Los Angeles to learn shoe design.

Marybeth Jenkins models a black evening dress designed and made by HCC fashion student Jay Sario, right.

A former professional salsa dancer, Tavia Perallon of Wahiawa spiced up her line, called "Caliente," with masses of ruffles. One dress has five yards of ruffles, each edged painstakingly with contrasting thread.

Where will these students end up? Some will become pattern makers for local designers. Others will use their grading skills (grading is sizing, a complex science made simpler with computers) with a local firm. Still others will go on to further degrees here or on the Mainland. A few will follow the path of graduate Ann Kagan, who does custom design and sewing, or Danene Lunn, designer and owner of Manuheali'i. Fashion design is not an easy field to enter, here or anywhere. It demands 110 percent effort and endless creativity and passion. We're betting a few of these graduates have what it takes.