Community Artist Spotlight: Ola Hou Designs: Sharayah Chun-Lai
In true NYC fashion week style, Team Mills Foundation had the opportunity to attend Ola Hou’s NYC Fashion Week show. We were blown away by the diversity, cultural representation, and designs of the collection from Hawaii.
We thought it would be fitting to interview Sharayah Chun-Lai, founder and designer of Ola Hou for our first ever Community Artist Spotlight.
TMF: How did you get into the fashion industry, designing and creating clothing?
SHARAYAH: I’ve loved fashion since I was little. I’ve been very inspired by fashion, especially by my grandmother on my mothers side. My grandmother was very into fashion and always dressed herself so beautifully from head-to-toe. I would watch how she carried herself.. always matching her blouses, her skirts, her jewelry. She was truly my inspiration for fashion. I've attended Kamehameha schools since kindergarten so having that strong cultural background in my life, learning about Hawaiian culture, allowed me to incorporate culture into my designs. I went to the University of Hawai’i at Manoa and earned my bachelor's degree in fashion design and merchandising in 2016. The name of my brand Ola Hou, which means New Life, is from my Senior Design project which was my first collection, needed to be completed to graduate. I didn’t know how to sew, create patterns but I learned all of this in school. I am grateful for this education, it set me up with what I know now. I titled it New Life.. When I thought of creating my own line, I wanted to use that name, because it was the moment I knew that I wanted to be a fashion designer. I became a young mother, so I wanted to stay home, but also follow my passions of being a designer.
TMF: Did you always have native Hawaiian prints incorporated into your line based on flowers and horticulture? Was that a meaningful part of your line?
SHARAYAH: Yes, when thinking and planning what I wanted to bring through my designs I wanted to tell these stories of my family, of our culture. This is a whole process for me.. For example, my first print design was the A’ali’i flower, the middle name of my daughter..being able to dedicate that to her, for being the reason I started all of this. Being able to tell the story of the A’ali’i.. that’s what our customers truly connect with. Also, being able to share stories through our prints is most important to me. For example, a purple orchid is not just a purple orchid..the purple orchid is a dedication to my grandmother, another reason why I started this line in the first place. People really connect to the prints, especially with the Anuenue (rainbow) print, which is a representation of my grandfather, it’s a representation of certain signs that we see when someone passes. People connect with these designs because they also see these as representations of those who have passed, their grandmother or their Kūpuna (grandparent).. I hear people say “this is my family too”...
TMF: I noticed there was cultural acknowledgement and music throughout the show, tell me a little bit about that decision..
SHARAYAH: Starting off with the Pu (conch shell), one of the Hula dancers made the announcement which explains to the crowd we are starting now. My Kumu(teacher)from Kamehameha, then came and did a chant, which he wrote specifically for this show. Talking about myself, my family, my sister- my right hand girl through this process.. It was an introduction to what was about to unfold. Having the Hula dancers next, to tell their story of Hawaii and our home, to showcase where we come from, our culture.. Then having the live entertainer singing about Hawaiian modern culture, our love, our life, our relationships. After that the looks came out..first the A’ali’ikūmakani, representing my daughter, next was the print that represented my sister. It was done in that specific sequence because it told my story.
TMF: I noticed you had a diverse set of people as models, was that also intentional?
SHARAYAH: Yes, definitely, in Hawai’i we have such diverse cultures, we accept everyone and their cultures, what they look like and their skin colors. In Hawai’i, everyone looks different, we love everyone for who they are… Being able to showcase that on the runway was so important to me.
TMF: Did you come with a large team to NYC?
SHARAYAH: Yes, we came with a group of 41. I wanted to bring models from Hawai’i. I wanted to bring a big team, and showcase them in NYC.
TMF: How is the reception to your line going in Hawaii?
SHARAYAH: It’s going very well, people are loving the new prints and styles. Because of this opportunity in NYC, I got a call saying there's a space in a huge shopping center in Hilo. It’s a risk I am excited about taking. I am hoping to open at the end of April. People want to come see the clothes, colors, and fabrics. This is a huge risk, but a huge opportunity!
TMF: Can we please talk about your winter jackets..they were fireee!
SHARAYAH: We never have to wear winter jackets in Hawai’i, I wanted to focus on people around the world, and expand my audience. I wanted to showcase how we can mix Hawaiian culture with other cultures and places. I was really pleased with the way it turned out. It was some of the most talked about aspects of the show.
TMF: How important is it to you to take ownership of your culture and present your culture to the world?
SHARAYAH: Culture in Hawai’i is everything to us, growing up attending Kamehameha schools and learning about where I come from, having that rooted in me..Making my elders proud, being able to represent that through fashion, is the most important thing to me. Telling stories, past, present and future, is one of the most important aspects of my fashion line.
Website: https://olahoudesigns.com