Representing the Fashion Design and Merchandising program of CTAHR’s Dept. of Family and Consumer Sciences, Professor Andy Reilly and graduate student Jordan Antonio received the Paper of Distinction award for the Culture track at the 2024 conference of the International Textile and Apparel Association (ITAA), held last month in Long Beach, California. ITAA is the premier organization for textile and fashion scholars and presents awards based on a rigorous selection process.
Reilly and Antonio’s paper was a case study of Native Hawaiian fashion designer Micah Kamohoaliʻi and how he utilizes cultural values to guide his designing and manufacturing processes. This work highlights issues of agency, sustainability, and authenticity. The paper will be published in early 2025.
“Jordan and I are grateful to be recognized for this work,” notes Reilly. “As this award is determined by my peers, it is high praise. We are in debt to Micah Kamohoaliʻi for lending his time and perspective on how to address some of the ills of the fashion industry, like waste and sustainability.”
This research was made possible via a Hatch Act grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service.