If you’re looking to advance your home sewing skills and explore the fashion industry, UH Maui College’s Fashion Tech Lab is here to help.
The lab is currently undergoing a major renovation, set to be completed by Fall 2025. Despite the ongoing upgrades, which include fresh paint, new lecture and cutting tables, updated ironing stations, and a full inventory of sewing and serger machines, the lab remains fully operational. These improvements will enhance both the regular Fashion Tech credit program and affordable non-credit classes.
For Spring 2025, the college is offering a range of classes, including courses in sewing knits and fashion illustration. In addition, a variety of non-credit classes are available, such as Surface Design in Pattern and Textile, Beginning Sewing for Adults, Embroidery and Mending, Crochet, Garment Alterations, and the popular Intro to Swimwear and Swimwear II.
Taking these classes could lead to more than just improved sewing skills. For three of UH Maui College’s Fashion Tech students, it led to an international opportunity in Japan. Brielle Pacli-Donato, Meghan Reny, and Aliza Clarke, alongside their instructor Maria Razzauti, traveled to Japan to participate in the Blue Green Art Project. This event, organized by Yamaguchi Prefectural University (YPU)—a sister university of UHMC since 2017—featured global fashion partners like Marimekko of Finland.
The project focused on showcasing upcycled garments made from old kimonos donated by Emeritus Professor Yumiko Mizutani, the former Fashion Program Director at YPU. Razzauti, who taught the students in the Upcycling Garments class last Spring, explained that the timing was perfect for the students to apply what they had learned, while also gaining new sewing skills needed for the kimono upcycling project.
Each student’s design was deeply inspired by their personal connection to Maui. Meghan Reny’s creation, *Hōkū Moon and Her Waters*, honored the beauty of the Hawaiian moon and waters, symbolizing the sacred connection between land, sea, and people. She incorporated opal beads onto the lining of a recycled wedding dress to represent the moon’s glow, with the kimono fabric representing water.
Aliza Clarke’s design paid tribute to Haleakalā, the sacred Hawaiian volcano. Her garment, featuring striped red kimono fabric, symbolized the layers of lava that formed its ridges. The bright yellow top represented the sun, Ka Lā, a symbol of renewal and light. Clarke shared that watching the sunrise at Haleakalā deepened her respect for the land and its ancient connection to the Hawaiian people.
Brielle Pacli-Donato’s design, *Wai Ko*, drew inspiration from Maui’s sugarcane fields. The white and peach upcycled furisode reflected Maui’s official pink color, while purple michiyuki and blue organza represented irrigation water. Green organza at the dress’s hem symbolized the sugarcane itself.
For the students, the trip to Japan was about much more than fashion. “Japan had always been a country I wanted to visit,” said Pacli-Donato. “The memories were incredible—from the kimono tea ceremony and indigo dyeing workshop to exploring Tokyo and visiting Bunka College and Yamaguchi University.”
For Instructor Maria Razzauti, the trip was a nostalgic return. “Seven years ago, as a UHMC student, I had the chance to participate in a similar event with YPU,” she said. “It was thrilling to help the students experience what I did, and it was a full-circle moment for me. Exhibiting one’s work abroad is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, and this trip was truly inspiring for all of us.”
The students’ participation in the Blue Green Art Project not only allowed them to showcase their talent but also gave them a deeper understanding of global fashion and cultural exchange, enriching their learning experience in ways that extend far beyond the classroom.
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