Aloha!

It goes without saying that the Moai are a talented bunch of people. Some are so talented that they use their skills to make a living as artisans. This forms the basis of the economy of the Islands of the Fraternal Order of Moai which we call The Coconut Economy.

We have been asking them about their work and today we are hearing from the seaside seamstress and ali'i of aloha wear, FashionTramp. If you have ever seen a Fellow Moai sporting a utili-lavalava at a formal event you have seen her work.

It was a dark and stormy night....

I learned to sew from my mother when I was only 10 years old, sitting at the dining room table. Many years of mediocre sewing later, I attended the Fashion Design program at Canada College while living in Redwood City, California. This rekindled my love of fashion and boosted my ability and skills in drafting and creating original clothing.

I get my inspiration from books, vintage and new fashions, vintage sewing patterns, and things I collect. As a compulsive fabric collector I find the fabric itself most inspiring, many times the fabric will dictate what the final piece should be. I am, however, a firm believer in simple cut, simple lines and fantastic fabric equals a great dress. Beyond that, it can be anything from a runway show piece to a flower in my backyard.

My wood carving friends will recognize that working with textiles is similar to working with wood. You start with a blank slate and you envision the end product before you make the first cut. The only difference with fabric is you start with a two dimensions and must create a garment to fit over a three dimensional body.

Working in the mad scientist laboratory, otherwise known as the "Guest Room," I work from new, vintage and my own original sewing patterns with any fabric I can find, all with a nod to the past. I combat one of the the pitfalls every vintage fashion lover faces, every piece is made with new quality thread and zippers . No more 50 year old thread breaking when you hit the dance floor on your first twirl. And I pre-wash all the vintage fabrics, so there are no funky smells. FashionTramp wasn't really planned, it started rather organically. Anytime I was out and about, other ladies would comment on my outfit... the fit, the pattern, the fabric. And almost every conversation ended with the inevitable, "can you make me something like that?" Thus, my love of vintage clothes and textiles combined with my trusty 1970's Singer handed down from my Mom led to FashionTramp.

To date, some of my favorite pieces are the 3D tiki mug skirt, modeled by the incomparable Stumpgrinder, inspired by corsets I saw in a Jean Paul Gaultier couture runway show several years ago. The Orchid Bikini, modeled by the gorgeous LuRu, which was inspired by a vintage Hawaiian album cover. But I have to say I had the greatest pleasure witnessing a large number of FOM Fellows sporting utili-lavalava's at Hot Rod Hula Hop IV. It wasn't the hey I made that thrill but instead the wonderful abandon and freedom that comes with wearing a traditional Polynesian garments in today's Khakis and button-down society with a group of people who understand. It was the camaraderie that clothes can create. Then there are the now infamous DollarHosen, but that is a story for another day...

Mahalo!

FashionTramp originals are available online from the Coconut Economy, just go to: www.fraternalorderofmoai.org/coconuteconomy and click on Clothing & Accessories for more information.

Keep the torches burning,

— Tagata Maori Rogorogo