University of Hawaiʻi's Fashion Design and Merchandising students curate new exhibit

The University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa is celebrating Muʻumuʻu Month with a special exhibition of vintage muʻumuʻu dresses curated by nearly 30 Waipahu High School students in collaboration with the university’s Fashion Design and Merchandising program. The display, part of a broader statewide tradition, is on view at Miller Hall throughout January.

Muʻumuʻu Month, which began in 2014 when Kauaʻi designer Shannon Hiramoto challenged herself to wear a different vintage muʻumuʻu every day in January, has evolved into a cultural movement that honours the history and ongoing relevance of the classic Hawaiian dress.

As part of the programme, students were introduced to fashion design tools including Computer-Aided Design software, offering hands-on experience in both curation and digital design. The initiative is intended to connect local youth with career pathways in fashion, culture and business while preserving Hawaiʻi’s fashion heritage.

The muʻumuʻu — a loose-fitting dress introduced in the 19th century — remains a symbol of Hawaiʻi’s cultural identity and is celebrated across the islands with exhibits, community events and educational activities throughout January.