Hawaiian Airlines partners with emerging designers on collection

By

Obi Anyanwu

Published
Nov 22, 2015

Hawaiian Airlines, graduates of Honolulu Community College’s (HonCC) Fashion Technology Program, and designers from The Cut Collective + Creative Lab’s Fashion Immersive Program have partnered on a fashion collection made from airplane seat fabric that was displayed at Honolulu Fashion Week this weekend.

"I got a call from Hawaiian Airlines asking if we had any students or alumni that could do an upcycle challenge, and I thought, with what? They explained that student designers would be given first and coach class seat covers to create wearable clothing," said Joy Nagaue, professor of the Fashion Technology Program at Honolulu Community College. "I accepted - our students can do anything! I'm overjoyed they've been given this great opportunity."
 
In March, the airline began retrofitting its Neighbor Island fleet with a modern redesign with lightweight main cabin seats from Acro Aircraft Seating Ltd. The fabric from the old seats that were removed were repurposed for the Cabin[to]Couture project.

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Seven participating designers, Chai Lim, Jacky Lau, Randy Oribello, Chanterelle Chantara, Emiko Miyazawa, Jana Lam, and Lizzy Chitamitre, designed fashion and accessories from 19 First Class and 23 Main Cabin seats and headrests. The collection went on display for the public at Honolulu Fashion Week this past Friday.
 
Honolulu Fashion Week presented by Hawaiian Airlines launched in 2014 as the first-of-its-kind fashion event in Hawaii highlighting local and national design talent and fashion. The fashion event took place over the weekend at the Hawaii Convention Center.