Vintage designs by Hawaii icons showcased in muumuu exhibit

HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) – When it comes to nā wāhine island fashion, there is nothing more unique to Hawaiʻi than the muʻumuʻu.

Aunty Lei Batty of DeStash Hawaiʻi says the muʻumuʻu brings people together through memory, culture and community.

“It is a strong part of our culture. People worldwide see our muʻumuʻus and they identify with who we are, and even the local people identify and have stories that are tied richly to a certain muʻumuʻu style and print,” she said.

That’s exactly what the Mayor’s Office of Culture and the Arts’ “For the Love of Muʻumuʻu” exhibit is all about.

From now until the end of January, many muʻumuʻu have a temporary hale at Honolulu Hale and Kapolei Hale.

Honolulu Mayor Rick Blangiardi said, “What we wear for clothing becomes part of our culture and our traditions, and certainly, the history and the legacy of muʻumuʻus just speaks to the rich traditions of Hawaiʻi. We’re just really proud to be able to do this.”

Aunty Lei said, “I think the muʻumuʻu has evolved a lot throughout the different designers, the styles, the periods, through colors, through fashion.”

You’re invited to come down and check out many island fashion icons like Nakeʻu Awai, Reyn Spooner, Liberty House and Bete Muʻumuʻu, who over the years have really made their mark with their beautiful designs of the colorful garments.

“These pieces are iconic. They’ve lasted throughout the 66 years that Bete has been in fashion,” Aunty Lei said.

Most importantly, many island designers and fashion leaders in the islands say the legacy of the muʻumuʻu lives on and encourages the next generation to keep this fabric of island life alive.

“I want them to embrace and continue this beautiful culture, rich fashion history that we have,” said Aunty Lei.

The exhibit honors Muʻumuʻu Month, which began in 2014 when Kauaʻi designer Shannon Hiramoto challenged herself to wear a different vintage muʻumuʻu every day in January.

The community is invited, but not required, to dress for the occasion by wearing muʻumuʻu.

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