Fashion Design Club
The Fashion Design Club …what started as a small creative club evolved into one of Vivistop Honolulu’s longest-running and most transformative programs. Originally planned as a 4 month program, grew into a full 10-month journey fueled by curiosity, commitment, and a whole lot of trial and error.
From September 2023 through July 2024, youth met regularly to explore the world of fashion. Learning everything from design and construction to branding and personal styling. Most came in with little to no sewing experience, but by the end, they were confidently making their own clothes and thinking like designers.
When it came time to bring their ideas to life, everyone had their own approach. Some freehanded patterns, some adapted existing ones, and others used their own clothing as a stencil. Mistakes were made (plenty of them) but every wrong cut, broken needle, or lopsided seam became a lesson. And those lessons became part of the process.
Throughout the program, members:
Built mood boards and developed concepts
Practiced sewing techniques and garment construction
Upcycled and reworked secondhand pieces
Experimented with patterns and custom fits
Developed branding and tags for their personal labels
Styled and modeled their pieces for a photoshoot and the fashion show
The space became more than just a sewing room. It becam a place to share ideas, fix problems together, and keep going even when things didn’t turn out the first time.
By the end, we had 10 kids showcase their designs at our Vivistop 2-Year Anniversary Fashion Show. One member even started his own streetwear brand from it. Another is planning his release. It was an inspiring and rewarding moment, a runway full of pieces made with purpose and persistence.
The Fashion Design Club reminded us that creativity isn’t about getting it perfect; it’s about figuring it out, learning as you go, and being proud of what you made anyway.
The Fashion Designers and Their Projects
Cassidy - A perfect summer dress with matching heels using textile that she designed herself
Titus - A unique twist on street wear with a short sleeve windbreaker top with puff detailing
Pandora - A ruffly, puffy, fun purple party dress
Jayden - A magical Lolita style dress with pearl detailing
Ijah - The cleanest Jorts (jean shorts) with a tote made from upcycled jeans and his branding screen printed throughout his outfit
Yubin - Convertible windbreaker pants that zip off and turn into boardshorts with a matching duffle set made to fit a Hawaii breaker’s lifestyle!
Aki - The most adorable complete set made in her theme of Strawberry Shortcake
Asher - “The world’s baggiest jeans” made combining taking a part and combining a bunch of thrifted jeans
Lala - A completely tailored dress made out of denim
Fifi - A pajama dress and a pillow that you can carry like a handbag made for any sleepover
