Pearl City High School (PCHS) fashion students collaborated with island sportswear company Tori Richard on a unique, custom aloha shirt which incorporates Hawaiian culture and the history of their beloved campus.
Over the span of two years, students from the Fashion and Artisan Design program met regularly with seasoned designers from the Tori Richard team for an immersive, hands-on learning experience starting from the initial brainstorming sessions of the print to the final stages of pattern creation and garment construction.
"We are immensely proud of our students and grateful to Tori Richard for this incredible opportunity. This collaboration has not only enriched their technical skills but also instilled in them a deep appreciation for the collaborative spirit of the fashion industry," said Wendy Oshiro, who heads the program at Pearl City High School.
The white toile-inspired design features historical references to the Waimano and Pu’uloa ahupua’a land subdivisions, where the campus is located. Campus landmarks such as the A and B Buildings and a sculpture titled “Kua Kua Lau” are also hidden in the design.
“It has been an honor and joy to work with PCHS students to design and create the print design for this fabric. At every step of the creative process PCHS students conceptualized and guided the Tori Richard team and the result is outstanding,” said Tori Richard CEO and President Joshua D. Feldmen. “It was a unique collaboration that gave PCHS students a voice and the student-led artwork resonates with pride.”
The one-of-a-kind shirts are only available for Pearl City High School faculty, staff and student ambassadors. The shirt made its debut in a meeting to kick off the school year.
The Fashion and Artisan Design program is one of the pathways in the school’s International Business and Design Academy. Pearl City High School has three College and Career Academies designed to prepare students for post-secondary education and the workforce by providing hands-on learning opportunities, industry-specific curriculum and connections to industry professionals.
