Aloha kākou!
For our Spring 2016 collection, rather than look elsewhere for inspiration, we chose to turn our attention to those closest to us—our FITTED ‘ohana. This season, we’re getting up close and personal with our “hui” (Hawaiian for club or company), as we allowed each of our team members to dream up two hats, each utilizing their choice of silhouette (59FIFTY fitted or 9FIFTY snapback), front logo, color-blocking, and materials—resulting in unique pieces that hold special value to the team members that created them. A few of our stockists on the Mainland will release their own store exclusives in the near future as well. Please note that all hats in this collection were produced in limited quantities.
Each piece has a special story behind it, and what better way to hear those stories than from the creators themselves? Every release will be authored by the team member responsible for that design, for an even more personal touch. This Spring season, we hope to share a little more about our hui with you.
Name: Mary-Anne T. McMillin
AKA: Mary, Murrzzz, Murreh Girl, @miss_prettygirl
Title/Position: Shop Girl
Favorite place in Hawaii? Two places: Waimea Bay, Oʻahu. Kapaʻa, Kauaʻi.
One thing you can't live without? Family including my dog Allie
What are you doing when you aren't working? Teaching, coaching, shopping, eating, schooling or spending time with my family or my boyfriend
Favorite FITTED hat? Black Day Tripper Snapback
What inspires you? Education & a child’s Imagination
PAPAKŪ KULĀIWI SNAPBACK
By Mary-Anne T. McMillin
Dedicated to one of my best friends, my Mom. <3
Circa 1992. I don’t know much of the story, but from what I heard…this is how my parents met.
My dad was in the military for about 8 or 10 years and stationed in Hawaii. He worked at Denny’s Restaurant in Waikiki with my mom’s uncle. At that time, my mom was living in the Philippines, but my dad saw a picture of my mom from her uncle and was interested. (Obviously this is another typical hookup back in the day, right? LOL, just kidding mom and dad.)
From Hawaii to the Philippines, my parents began sending pen pal letters to each other. Long story short; they talked for a while, my dad flew up to the Philippines, got married and brought both my mom and her dad down to live in Hawaii in 1993. Couple of months later…comes out @miss_prettygirl. Ever since ʻ93 my mom has been chilling in Honolulu, living the “American Dream.”
If you haven’t met my mom, she’s a cute tiny Filipino lady who is another strict parent that just wants the best for her daughter. My mom has been on my case every second of every day. She would text me and call me every 5 minutes during high school, after school events, and even in college just to check up on me and see where I was. I’ve always wondered why she was on my case and wouldn’t leave me alone, but after a while it didn’t bother me. I just thought that she never wanted me to grow up, but I’ve grown to understand that she always has good intentions for me. She will always have my back, will always be around for me when times get tough, and will always be around to have a good laugh with. She has shaped me to be the woman I am today and without her, I don’t know how my life would have turned out. Thanks mom, this one is for you!
papa.kū
n. Foundation or surface, as of the earth
kulā.iwi
nvs. Native land, homeland; native. My own homeland.
I named this hat “Papakū” because my mom is my foundation. I choose the Kulāiwi design because it’s one of my favorite designs, but to relate to my mom even better…Honolulu, Hawaii is her new home and mines forever. Royal blue is our favorite color and is used on the entire crown. The front logo and back crest are stitched in metallic silver, while the undervisor and snap enclosure are finished in light grey, with both colors reminding me that there is always a silver lining to everything.
Along with the Papakū Kulāiwi snapback, we’ll also be releasing our new Hui design, printed in grey on a white tee. The back features a large seal containing a handshake graphic and the words “Hawaiian Made” and “Registered” in the middle. The outer ring features the phrase “Ka Hui Ana O Na Mana” which roughly translates to “The Coalition of Forces” in Hawaiian, playing off the central theme of our Hui collection and the notion that we become stronger when we come together.
