There is an art to packing light. It requires thought, planning and rigorous discipline. We all know it makes sense to travel light to save our backs as well as our psyches. Now, of course, there's monetary motivation for editing down a travel wardrobe: avoiding all those extra luggage fees.

Kailua fashion designer Jodi Salmonson makes it easier for Island women to pack it all in while staying chic, feminine and pretty. Her latest line, called Martinique, is designed with travel in mind. Martinique is versatile, packable and comfortable. Each of the 30 pieces takes a minimum of space and can be washed by hand and dried on a line.

Designed to mix and match, many of the Martinique garments also do double duty. One is a skirt that converts to a top, another is a dress that reverses to a different print so you have two dresses in one. There are also tunics that can transform into minidresses.

Salmonson uses sumptuous fabrics such as silk chiffon, bamboo jersey, rayon crepe and silk charmeuse that have a silky hand but spring back to their original shape after a brief stint on a hanger. She tests each garment herself to make sure it will look fresh and wrinkle-free after being smashed into a suitcase or carry-on.

"If it would feel silly on the beach, it doesn't make it into the line," she said.

WHERE TO FIND IT

• Moonbow Tropics, Westin Moana Surfrider Waikiki and Kona Village Resort, Kailua, Kona; www.moonbowtropics.com.

• Pacific Cabana, Aloha Tower Marketplace; 566-2337.