Simply put, Mondo is genius. His creativity surpasses the everyday artist, the average fashion designer. Plaid and polka dots? Tribal and gold? On the runway, Mondo makes the outlandish pattern contrast and brightly fabulous colors work to his advantage. No matter how quirky and mismatched his outfits are, you’re always able to see consistency, flow to his shows. Whether it be each model in a dramatic hair piece, bright pink lipstick, or simply a red umbrella, he amazes his crowds with the pure creativity of his pieces and uniformity in his runway shows. For the Maui show at the Hyatt, he had each model in polka dot socks with heels, a red umbrella, and (genius!) red and blue 3D glasses. In typical Mondo fashion, these berserk items pulled the show together! Mondo’s patterns, shiny material, lovely models, use of color and odd accessories…purely fabulous. It was hot…just like Mondo.

we even got to meet him..thanks to VIP Style for bringing the designers to Maui!

Everyone can use an extra grocery bag (especially after the Maui County plastic bag ban!)..why not make one out of an old tee? This one’s cool with fringe at the bottom and you can quickly and easily make it sans the sewing machine! Here’s how:
Supplies:
1. An old t-shirt (a tie-dyed one is always more fun:)
2. Scissors
3. A safety pin

Cut off the sleeves. I like to start about an inch and a half below the actual sleeve. This way you get longer, more bag-like straps.

Cut 2 one inch strips from both sleeves you cut off of the tee. Snip them so instead of rings they become long strings, you should have 4 total.

Cut 8 evenly spaced slits in the bottom seam of the shirt. Cut 3 in the front, 3 in the back, and one on each side. Be careful not to cut through the stitching.

Connect the safety pin to one strip and thread it through the far left front and back section so both ends of the strip stick out on the left hem of the tee. Do the same to the right with another strip. Take the third strip and starting at the middle slit, thread this string through the section closest to the left, under and over the first string, and through the opposing back section. With the fourth strip, do the same thing, starting at the middle strip, but sew through the sections on the right.

Pull the strings tight and double knot them all. I like to tie the middle left and right strings together also for extra strength.

Pau! You have a recycled, reuseable bag! Just in time for Earth Day on Friday :)

Ironic. Our next concept theme for our summer line is “dreams.” I’m in Vegas. So the obvious is financial stability, basically a big win. But let’s look at the big picture…considering what’s going on in the world: japan, hunger, the environment… Too be quite honest it’s quite easy to look past all of those struggles in sin city. Every one here lives in the mode and mind set of “what if?” What if I won 10 mill? What would I do with10 mill? It’s a dream for sure, but unlikely for most. So leads me back to some fundamental dreams. Health care for all and educational opportunities for all. Opportunity and optimism for those without family and thus support. A drive always to look beyond what’s possible when everything looks dire. I’m quite the idealist. My dream? The big win…no war, understanding and acceptance.

Our Summer line will be inspired by our dreams. Dreams we have, dreams we’ve fulfilled, dreams we don’t even know we have yet…

This past weekend the keiki made chip clip butterflies! These are the materials needed:

1. a clothespin
2. pens
3. googly eyes
4. pipe cleaners
5. a snack sized ziploc full of yummy cereal
6. a small sticky magnet (so the chip clip can be a fridge magnet when not in use!)

Directions:
1. decorate clothespin
2. glue on googly eyes
3. add pipe cleaner antennas
4. stick magnet to the back of clothespin.
5. clip to the middle of the snack bag

Emma and her fun butterfly!

They also made Easter baskets and fun Easter cards for Mom and Dad :)