A Sustainable Fashion Industry for Hawai'i

Abstract

Hawai‘i would benefit from a locally provided, sustainable textile industry that could help to support a local sustainable fashion industry. As a fashion designer striving for sustainable fashion in Hawai‘i, the preferred textiles used in creating designs inspired by Hawai‘i should be ones made in Hawai‘i. Products produced from these unique Hawaiian textiles would be limited, exclusive, and intrinsically invaluable. Textiles, as products of Hawai'i, would offer people who live in Hawai'i something additional to be proud of and the rest of the world something extraordinary to desire. Literature reviews were done on the possible fiber sources in Hawai'i, and the history of the Hawaiian garment industry. Further research was conducted on the locally produced Hawai'i specific items that are currently in the luxury market. Some ASTM textile tests were done on kapa made from Broussonetia papyrifera, wauke, and kapa made from Cannabis sativa, hemp. Water spray and impact tests could not be conducted because the kapa textile structure became immediately unstable. ASTM tearing, burning, stiffness, pilling, and abrasion tests were conducted and revealed that kapa textile is not suitable for regular garment use, but that may be viable for alternative textile usage. There is speculation on the use of hemp for textile production in Hawai'i. A presentation of the design philosophy of an emerging Hawai'i fashion designer, who promotes sustainable Hawaiian fashion through the intrinsic and extrinsic nature of the designs, as well as the intended company modus operandi, is offered as example and support for sustainable fashion.