Photo: @jasonjko
Model: @chrisrockemwell
Aloha kākou!
This Saturday, we proudly introduce the first delivery our newest collection—aptly titled Observation—with its aesthetics born from the idea of developing fundamental solutions through applied observation.
As designers, our ultimate goal is to observe all aspects of a project and come up with a successful visual solution. And of course we strive to do that on a daily basis through our products—but in a more substantial capacity, we look to our Hawaiian ancestors for the truest examples of applied observation.
The ahupuaʻa system, for instance, was a brilliant solution to the growing population and the need to sustain the people within the community. They observed the land and organized the communities in a way that followed the slope of the land and utilized the resources perfectly. Everyone within their ahupuaʻa had a duty to fulfill, became masters of their skillset, and always practiced aloha and laulima (cooperation).
A more detailed example is undoubtedly the brilliant wayfinding navigational skills that brought our ancestors to Hawaiʻi and throughout Polynesia. The original voyagers observed birds that migrated away for long periods of time and came back every year, concluding there must be more land out there. Watching other species of birds helped them understand when land was near or which trees were perfect for carving into canoes. They studied the waʻa kaukahi (single-hull canoes) and learned that making a unique modification would help withstand a longer journey, resulting in waʻa kaulua (double-hull canoes). And most importantly, they observed the stars, ocean tides, and the earth’s rotation, giving them a measure of direction, seasons, and time.
With the Observation collection, we look to mahalo the hard workers that came before us, sparking innovation and change by being makaʻala (aware) and observing all things around them. Those who helped build the culture that we now strive to sustain.
Three patterns are used throughout the Observation Collection, each stemming from natural elements that provides daily life, as well as the tools our ancestors used through observation:
ELEMENT EARTH FIRE / EEF
Flowing strokes of warm colors mimic fire bellowing in the air, and the movement of the earth underneath.
ELEMENT WATER SKY / EWS
The cool wavy colors are inspired by the ocean’s currents and the movement of clouds through the sky.
ELEMENT PLANTS TREES / EPT
Shades of green intersect and cut through each other like wind-rustled leaves and tree canopies swaying in the wind.
We’re also showcasing brand-new and updated cut and sew pieces for this collection—utilizing premium materials in our own custom-tailored—with special attention paid to the technical construction, placing them within the highly stringent standards of our TropTech line.
Mua 9FIFTY Snapback
Crafted in 100% polyester poplin, this Mua features the EEF (Element Earth Fire) pattern covering the entire crown and visor, with brass eyelets and a white snap enclosure. The front Mua is stitched in white and shades of orange, while the side New Era logo and side crown are white, and the back crest is orange and white.
Chiseled Scree Jersey – Black
The Scree jersey is a completely brand-new silhouette introduced under our TropTech cut and sew program. The body is a premium breathable mesh henley with a two-button collar, sporting a Hawaiian flag patch on the wearer’s right sleeve and a Tyvek care label is sewn into the back collar. The large stitched number 4 on the back is a nod to the traditional Hawaiian system of counting, in which they counted in multiples of four, based on the amount of fish that one could hold in each hand. “Fitted” is embroidered in white on the wearer’s left chest in a custom chiseled font, inspired by the way our ancestors used a koʻi (adze) to carve out the hulls of the canoes.
Superior Movements Long-Sleeve Tee – Orange
Created just for this collection, this new design features a large watch face on the back with moon phases running down the sleeves, portraying a juxtaposition of modern time-keeping next to the old Hawaiian way of telling time.
