Two years ago, Alena Albertson never thought she’d have the once-in-a lifetime experience of presenting cutting-edge research at a conference, let alone winning an award. But that’s exactly what happened recently.

The Stole Society, an FDM student club, as a RIO (Registered Independent Organization), recently worked on an upcycled project. Motivated student members and an instructor created various upcycled, one-of-a-kind garments and sold the items at the campus center on Dec 4, 2023. We will continue working on the project next semester. The next Rainbow Bazaar will be sometime in early 2024. Please let us know if you have any gently used garments and want to join us. SS President: Quinn Curammeng--quinnkln@hawaii.edu -written by Minako McCarthy

Dr. Shu-Hwa Lin, Department of Family & Consumer Sciences Fashion Design & Merchandising, leads a group of UH students (including one FDM, one Business, and three Engineering students) and one Textile & apparel student from Washing State University to attend the NASA MITTIC Fall 2023 Pitch competition. These six students and Dr. Shu-Hwa Lin were invited to visit Houston, TX, for three days to give a poster presentation, an oral presentation, and an exciting VIP tour of NASA, which included the Mission Control Center, Training Center, and Rocket Center. Participants are Chester Leoso, Matthew Kirimitsu, Johnathan Hollis, Alexander Castillo, Johnell Ladera (from UH), and Nehemiah Duran (from Washington State University). All students presented very outstanding and professional presentations. Dr. Lin expressed that she was proud of students’ outstanding performances (both poster and oral presentations). Watch the video (LINK) -written by Shu-Hwa Lin

Dr. Ju-Young Kang (FDM)’s research article, titled “Artificial intelligence-powered digital solutions in the fashion industry: A mixed-methods study on AI-based customer services,” has been published in the International Journal of Fashion Design, Technology and Education [LINK]. Using a sequential mixed-methods approach, this research examined customer experiences with and the uses and gratifications of AI chatbots as AI-based customer services and the influence of customers’ perceptions of service quality in AI-based customer services on favorable customer experiences, brand loyalty, and purchase loyalty.  For more information, read the full article [LINK] -written by Ju-Young Kang

Former employees of Aloha Airlines recently donated a collection of uniforms to the UHM Historic Costume Collection.  The donation includes over 50 flight attendant uniforms from the 1950s to 2000s and represents the changes in fashion trends designed by local brands like Baba Kea and Tori Richard.  For more information, read the artcle (LINK). -written by Andrew Reilly