Business Monday: Local designers show off new looks during first-ever Kona Swim Week fashion event

Local designers came together, on Saturday, to showcase the best of their work to kick off the summer during the first-ever Kona Swim Week fashion event.

Hosted at Spinners Cantina, the fashion show featured nine local designers with models strutting the looks for guests gathered on Ali‘i Drive.

“We always wanted to do an event like this in Kona. We have our fashion show on O‘ahu every year, but we really wanted to showcase different local designers here,” said Samantha Preece, producer of Hawai‘i Fashion Show and model coach.

Kona Swim Week, which started as a much smaller event between Preece and friend Lana Stewart, owner and designer of Kona Kinis Swimwear, began growing as the word spread throughout social media. It turned into a community event with local business sponsorship.

“No one said no,” Preece continued. “I think it was just a matter of, I tell 10 people, and we had a hundred people that showed up. Everyone shares with friends and family, and the word spreads quickly!”

With only two months to prepare, Preece and her team assembled a runaway down Spinners Cantina, with models walking up and down the pathway, music blaring, and an Ali’i Drive sunset in the background.

For one local designer, Angie Fryar, founder of Tan and Salty, it was her first runway show. Fryar had eight different outfits each styled with underwater gear, such as a mask and snorkel, shells, flowers, etc.

“I wanted to inspire women to go out and explore the ocean,” she said.

Founded in 2022, Tan and Salty sells swimwear made from reusable plastic bottles and represents Fryar’s motivation to help clean up the ocean.

“My mission is to inspire women to get in the water with purpose,” Fryar said. “And understanding, that, you don’t have to sacrifice luxury for eco-fashion. Eco fashion is the new activism.”

Tan and Salty designs suits from Repreve, which markets itself as the world’s leading brand in performance fiber, made from plastic bottles.

Fryar also partners with local beach cleanup organizations, such as the Marine Mammal Center, Keep Puako Beautiful, South Kohala Reef Alliance, and more, to spread awareness and co-host beach cleanups.

“When I first launched the business, I was inspired by meeting other women that feel passionate about the ocean but couldn’t find a brand that aligned with their purpose and fittings,” Fryar said. “I want women to feel comfortable and beautiful. I want to empower women to feel their best. The suits are designed to help women feel very feminine.”

Rachel Frederick, a local designer and owner of The Kini Shop, agreed: “For me, designing and fitting is all about reminding women of the confidence they already have.”

Frederick featured over 20 new styles during the fashion show and noted feeling excited to show off her hard work to kick off the summer.

“For these collections, we don’t just design, everything is made and manufactured in Hawai‘i,” Frederick said. “It’s made at my studio, I think that sets us apart, it’s all totally local.”

The Kini Shop owner’s favorite part of the design process was hearing each woman’s story during the initial consultation.

“Many women come in with negative thoughts about their body and seeing them at the end of our fitting with more love and confidence for their body always brings me so much joy. We’re transforming the world, one woman at a time” Frederick said. “We work with women with all different types of bodies, curves, and we help everyone to feel and see themselves as beautiful.”

Preece hopes to bring Kona Swim Week back every year.

“We definitely want to have a much bigger venue, and more time to plan,” she laughed. “We did what we could on two months’ notice and zero budget.

“But we were really happy with the turnout. Everything was donated and people were coming together. If we have that collaborative spirit, more preparation, more budget, lights, DJs, we can make next year even more spectacular to showcase these brands and logos.”

All ocal brands that participated in the event included Kona Kinis (including collaboration with Worlds Beautiful Miss), The Kini Shop, Mano Wear, Kona Shack, Sacred Apparel, Kiki + Naia, Vicky Jean Leather Bags and Kona Gems. 

Aside from Spinners Cantina, sponsors to this event included Kona Style Catamaran, Maui Vera Sunscreen, Kona Boys Beach Shack, Island by Koa Nani, Jelica Ann Photography and PBK Photography.

Editor’s note: This story has been modified to include the names of all designers and sponsors of the fashion event.