Andre Kim benefit dinner and fashion show to delight fashionistas and K-drama fans alike

UH fashion students will have rare opportunity to work with famed designer

HONOLULU — Internationally renowned Korean fashion designer, Andre Kim, will showcase his latest creations in Hawaiʻi on Wednesday, Feb. 15, 5:30 p.m., at the Hilton Hawaiian Village Coral Ballroom. The event, a dinner and fashion show, will benefit the University of Hawaiʻi at Manoa‘s College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources (CTAHR) apparel product design and merchandising (APDM) program, and at the same time observe KBFD TV‘s 20th anniversary.

"This event is seen not only as a charitable event, but one which will be a magnificent learning opportunity for the students and faculty in our program," said CTAHR Dean Andrew Hashimoto. "We look forward to receiving Andre Kim and his celebrity models from Korea and sharing his culturally unique production to benefit our fashion design program."

The 70-year-old designer has done a variety of charity shows and received numerous awards and accolades for using fashion as a medium to bridge cultures and create goodwill around the globe. Kim‘s designs are described as a combination of artwork taken from elements of fashion, music and performance that harmonize and complement each other, like in a musical.

Known for using top Korean celebrities in his elaborate shows, Kim has selected K-drama stars Shim Jee Ho (Stained Glass), Kim Min Jung (Fashion 70s), and Hawaiʻi-favorite Jeong Joon Ho (The Twins, Marrying the Mob), as the main models of his Honolulu show. The stars will appear in the show‘s culmination sequence — a wedding scenario.

"Not only will this be the fashion extravaganza of the year, but it will provide an unprecedented opportunity for the public and private sectors to come together in partnership to present what promises to be a wonderful experience for our designer-hopefuls," said event chair, Ruth Ono. "I am so honored to be part of this goodwill journey with one of the world‘s greatest — Andre Kim!"

Students in the apparel product design and merchandising program, CTAHR‘s largest program with 160-plus students, will have the opportunity to work backstage alongside Kim and his crew to help dress the models and set up stations during the rehearsals and the show. "It will be crazy behind-the-scenes, but the students have the basics of what it takes to prep for a show like this so it will be good practice for them," said Diane Chung, a longtime faculty with the CTAHR program.

Proceeds from the event will be used to establish an endowment at UH Foundation that will support all facets of the APDM program, including developing and delivering curricula, purchasing equipment and supplies for courses, enriching student experiences in and outside the classroom, and providing scholarships to students.

Sponsors for the event include Aveda Salon & Spa Ala Moana; City Mill; DAY AV; Hilton Hawaiian Village; KBFD TV; KSSK; Liberty‘s Beauty Salon; Neiman Marcus; Pacific Basin Communications; Price Waterhouse Coopers; and Royal Hawaiian Heritage Jewelry.

Prices range from $200 per seat up $5,000 for a premium table of 10. For more information or to purchase seats, call 956-6016 or email events@ctahr.hawaii.edu.

Note to media: For media credentials to attend the show, call 956-5637 or email abiang@hawaii.edu by Thursday, Feb. 9.

About the Apparel Product Design and Merchandising Program
The Apparel Product Design and Merchandising (APDM) is a comprehensive undergraduate program at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa whose mission is to prepare students with the knowledge and skills needed for career positions in apparel and fashion-related industries. The APDM curriculum provides students with: an understanding and appreciation of the impact of global production and distribution of apparel; the ability to plan, develop, and merchandise apparel product lines and to evaluate their quality; an understanding of the role of dress and fashion in society; an understanding of the design, manufacture, marketing, retailing, and consumption of textile and apparel products; the ability to demonstrate personal attitudes and skills appropriate to career positions in fashion industries and related fields.

About KBFD TV
Established in 1976, KBFD UHF Channel 32, on Oceanic Cable channel 4, is the only locally owned independent television station in Honolulu, Hawaiʻi. KBFD is devoted to entertaining the fastest growing viewer segment in Honolulu: Asian-Americans. KBS & MBC, the two leading television networks in Korea provide the most popular programs including traditional and modern dramas, mini-series, comedy, children's programming, variety shows, entertainment, local and national news.