FAQs

What is Hifi?

The Hawaii Fashion Incubator (Hifi) is dedicated to promoting Hawaii Fashion as art and industry.  We believe Hawaii has the talent and resources to support a thriving fashion industry and to become a destination for the global fashion community.  

How did Hifi get started?

Hifi began in 2006 with a small group of individuals who wanted to see more happening in Hawai‘i fashion and decided to create a central resource for the fashion community.  There are now over 1,000 people in Hifi’s network. 

Who’s behind Hifi?

Hifi’s network includes over 1,000 members of the local fashion community, from buyers & retailers to designers, media, photographers, models, event planners, makeup artists, educators, students, and fashion enthusiasts.  Our core planning group meets regularly and includes professionals from many industry sectors.

Why is Hifi needed?

Hawai‘i's fashion industry has a rich history.  In the 1960’s and 1970’s the Aloha shirt was all the rage, small garment manufacturers proliferated here and the Hawai‘i Fashion Guild organized and rallied support for the industry.  By the mid-1990s most of the manufacturers had disappeared and the Hawai‘i Fashion Guild dissolved. 

Fashion in Hawai‘i is now experiencing a resurgence.  The growing industry has a modern face and deserves guidance, resources, and exposure at the local, national, and international level.  Until Hifi was formed in 2006, the industry lacked a central resource for information, networking, and advocacy.  Hawai‘i has two college-level fashion programs, but many graduates continue to believe it is necessary to leave the islands in order to pursue a career in fashion.  Hifi believes a fashion incubator is needed to strengthen the community and restore fashion’s place in Hawai‘i’s economic and cultural identity.

What are Hifi’s goals and projects?

Hifi strives to be a central hub for fashion in Hawai‘i.  Hifi’s member network, website, events, and projects are geared toward connecting fashion enthusiasts, students and professionals with people, information, and resources to help them achieve their goals and collectively drive the local industry forward.  As Hifi evolves, it plans to expand its  resource offerings to include brick-and-mortar facilities offering shared workspace, affordable manufacturing, classes, retail and showroom space, and other expressed needs of the community.  The facilities will provide a gathering place for Hawaii's fashion industry and create an informational resource and destination for visitors and the general public.   Hifi also plans to expand educational opportunities in fashion for K-12 and higher education and develop events, marketing and branding strategies to promote Hawaii's fashion industry at the local, national, and international level.  Hifi will also continue to support the preservation of the University of Hawaii's Historic Costume Collection.  Visit our Projects page for more information.