Top 10 Fashion Designers in Hawaii (2025 Edition)

Island Aesthetics, Indigenous Innovation & Pacific-Rooted Fashion

Hawaii’s Fashion Identity: Cultural Expression Through Clothing

Hawaii’s fashion scene is deeply rooted in heritage, sustainability, and place-based creativity. From traditional aloha wear reimagined for contemporary wardrobes to avant-garde collections inspired by native Hawaiian culture, Hawaii’s fashion designers are storytellers as much as garment makers. The islands support a growing community of designers producing small-batch, ethical fashion that respects Indigenous knowledge, environmental harmony, and global innovation.

This list features the top 10 fashion designers in Hawaii, covering a mix of famous names, independent creators, and top emerging talents from Oʻahu to the Big Island.

Famous and Leading Fashion Designers from Hawaii

1. Sig Zane

• Base: Hilo, Hawai‘i Island
• Specialty: Cultural prints, aloha wear, menswear
• Why He’s Famous: A legend in Hawaiian fashion, Sig Zane blends native motifs and storytelling into wearable art. His work has influenced a generation of designers.

2. Kimié Miner (Haku Collective)

• City: Honolulu
• Known For: Singer-turned-fashion entrepreneur
• Focus: Cultural advocacy, ʻŌlelo Hawai‘i apparel, artist collaborations
• Why She Leads: Through her label, Haku Collective, she’s built a bridge between Hawaiian music, fashion, and language revival.

3. Manuhealiʻi (Founded by Emma Akana Aluli & continued by Manu Boyd)

• Base: Kailua, O‘ahu
• Style: Aloha-inspired prints, family-centered business, multi-generational design
• Legacy: A cornerstone of top clothing designers in Hawaii focused on accessible and culturally respectful fashion.

Top Emerging Fashion Designers in Hawaii

4. Kini Zamora

• City: Kapolei, Oʻahu
• Known For: Project Runway finalist, dramatic silhouettes
• Current Work: Kini & Dinko Studio, specializing in street-meets-couture collections
• Why Emerging Again: Kini is redefining Hawaiian high fashion with theatrical tailoring and bold local roots.

5. Tasha Leong (Haʻa Leʻa)

• Base: Maui
• Medium: Upcycled fabrics, linen, natural dyes
• Ethos: Fashion that honors ʻāina (land) and kanaka (people)
• Why She’s Rising: Her line represents a new wave of slow fashion rooted in Hawaiian values.

6. Keoni Nunes (Ka Ulu Kukui)

• Base: Waiʻanae, O‘ahu
• Background: Cultural tattooist turned textile artist
• Style: Deeply symbolic kapa patterns, limited edition prints
• Why Emerging: Keoni brings ancient iconography to modern garments, creating wearable cultural documentation.

Independent and Local Designers in Hawaii

7. IOLANI Sportswear (Kamehameha Schools legacy label)

• City: Honolulu
• Founded: 1953
• Current Design Leads: Lloyd Kawakami & team
• Product: Iconic shirts, modern aloha wear
• Why They Matter: They’re among the best fashion designers in Hawaii preserving the integrity of traditional aloha prints.

8. Rumi Murakami

• City: Honolulu
• Style: Minimalist tailoring meets Japanese-Hawaiian elegance
• Background: Parsons graduate, boutique label in Kaimuki
• Why She’s Loved Locally: Rumi offers a refined island aesthetic loved by urban professionals and stylists alike.

9. Maile Andrade

• City: Volcano, Hawai‘i Island
• Medium: Fiber art, kapa cloth, contemporary Indigenous garments
• Role: Educator, artist, designer
• Why She’s Essential: Maile is one of the most important voices in Hawaiian cultural fashion, frequently featured in museum exhibitions.

10. MANAOLA Yap (MANAOLA Hawaii)

• Base: Kohala, Hawai‘i Island
• Signature: Spiritual symbology, Native Hawaiian patterns
• Achievements: First Native Hawaiian designer to show at New York Fashion Week
• Why Iconic: MANAOLA is a true cultural and fashion innovator marrying protocol, ancestry, and design.

Why Hawaii’s Fashion Designers Deserve Global Attention

1. Deep Cultural Relevance

Many designers center their collections around Indigenous Hawaiian traditions, land stewardship, and decolonial fashion narratives.

2. Eco-Friendly and Local-First

Most independent fashion designers in Hawaii work with natural fibers, upcycled fabrics, and low-impact methods.

3. Island Identity Drives Originality

With limited access to mass production, Hawaiian designers rely on craft, storytelling, and cultural wisdom.

4. Rising Support for Native Creatives

Organizations like Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement, and platforms like Merrie Monarch and Mele Kalikimaka markets, elevate local fashion designers in Hawaii.

FAQs – Fashion Designers from Hawaii

1. Who are the most famous fashion designers from Hawaii?
   Sig Zane, MANAOLA Yap, and Kini Zamora are some of the best-known Hawaiian fashion names.
2. What is aloha wear, and is it still popular?
   Yes. Modern aloha wear is evolving with contemporary tailoring and deeper cultural significance through brands like Manuhealiʻi and IOLANI.
3. Can I buy sustainable clothing from Hawaii-based designers?
   Absolutely. Designers like Tasha Leong and Rumi Murakami use eco-conscious fabrics and slow production.
4. Where can I find local fashion in Hawaii?
   Check out boutiques in Kakaʻako, Kailua, Volcano, and Hilo—plus weekend markets and online stores.
5. Are there Indigenous fashion shows in Hawaii?
   Yes. Events during the Merrie Monarch Festival, Hawaiian Cultural Fashion Weeks, and Mele markets regularly feature Indigenous fashion talent.