New York Fashion Week showcases UH alumna, Native Hawaiian wahine designer

VIDEO NEWS RELEASE

University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa
Contact:
Kelli Abe Trifonovitch, (808) 228-8108
Chief Communications Officer, UH Office of Communications
Posted: Feb 13, 2022

Sharayah Chun-Lai and Ola Hou Designs models on the runway. Credit: Olonā Media
Sharayah Chun-Lai and Ola Hou Designs models on the runway. Credit: Olonā Media
Dillon Ah Chong models Pueo print in New York City. Credit: @jordanlacsina
Dillon Ah Chong models Pueo print in New York City. Credit: @jordanlacsina
Model wears ‘A‘ali‘ikūmakani, while Loeka Longakit performs. Credit: Olonā Media
Model wears ‘A‘ali‘ikūmakani, while Loeka Longakit performs. Credit: Olonā Media
Ola Hou Designs models on the New York Fashion Week runway. Credit: Olonā Media
Ola Hou Designs models on the New York Fashion Week runway. Credit: Olonā Media
Ola Hou Designs owner and designer Sharayah Chun-Lai. Credit:  Olonā Media
Ola Hou Designs owner and designer Sharayah Chun-Lai. Credit: Olonā Media

Link to video and sound (Please Courtesy: Olonā Media): https://bit.ly/33e9Adc

WHO: Designer and University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa Alumna Sharayah Chun-Lai, owner of Ola Hou Designs, the first kānaka ʻōiwi wahine (Native Hawaiian woman) to accept an invitation to New York Fashion Week.

WHEN: New York Fashion Week February 2022 

WHAT: Chun-Lai unveiled 20 “looks” for kāne (men) and wāhine (women) and one-of-a-kind garments created by a team of Hawai‘i Island seamstresses.

New prints that premiered during New York Fashion Week are now available at Ola Hou Designs.

HOW: With the help of a team of 45 local professionals, including Native Hawaiian models, musicians and dancers. The New York Fashion Week opportunity is also a springboard for these Hawai‘i hopefuls.

WHY: “Ola Hou Designs will bring aloha to the world, as each design tells a story to see, wear and represent,” Chun-Lai said. “Each print depicts a deeper meaning than what meets the eye. My designs are representations of my family, friends, culture, life and love, intertwined together to create artistic and transportive experiences, and connections with my customers.”

WHERE: Sony Hall in New York City for Runway 7

OTHER FACTS:

  • Chun-Lai earned a degree in Fashion Design and Merchandising from UH Mānoa. The program taught her to sew, create patterns and stage a fashion show.

  • She launched her modern Hawaiian-inspired clothing and lifestyle retail line, Ola Hou Designs, in 2019.

  • Chun-Lai, 27, is also a Kamehameha Schools Hawaiʻi alumna. 

VIDEO: (TRT: 2:39 Courtesy: Olonā Media)

BROLL: (TRT 1:49, Courtesy: Olonā Media)

Shots of Ola Hou Designs fashion show on Runway 7 in New York

SOUND: 

Sharayah Chun-Lai, Ola Hou Designs owner/designer (:15)

“I’m so honored for this opportunity.  For the opportunity, for not only Ola Hou but this entire team to be able to just showcase ourselves, our Hawai‘i, our families on the runway and I’m so honored and grateful for this opportunity.”

Chun-Lai (:14)

“Being able to walk out on that stage and see the audience just absolutely love it, it just made me so happy.  It’s just something I never thought I could ever do or could ever dream of or imagine, It’s just to see that happen was unbelievable.”

Chun-Lai (:13)

“I wanted to bring our story, my story, my family, our culture, Hawai‘i, and just be able to showcase that on the runway and let people know about Hawai‘i, about our culture, about these prints and their meanings, and I think we did that tonight.”