The University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa’s College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resilience (CTAHR) is honored to host the 2026 Western Education/Research Activity-20 (WERA-20) conference on the beautiful island of Maui. 
 

Dr. Andy Reilly led a group of 10 undergraduate students to the annual Magic Fashion Convention in Las Vegas, offering them a rare behind-the-scenes look at the business side of the apparel industry. The convention, which draws designers, brand representatives, and retail buyers from around the world, serves as a marketplace for the latest clothing lines, accessories, and emerging trends. For the students, the trip combined academic insight with hands-on exposure to an industry that blends creativity with commerce.

The visit was designed to help students better understand merchandising, trend forecasting, and the economics of fashion retail. Students attended lectures and workshops on upcoming trends in men’s and women’s apparel, color forecasting, and business planning. They explored vendor showrooms and observed how new collections are pitched to buyers. Students said the experience provided valuable insight into how branding, innovation, and consumer demand shape the global fashion market, making the trip both educational and inspiring.

By Dr Andy Reilly

Four Stole Society officers and the advisor traveled to Tokyo and Atami. The five-day winter trip included a visit to Bunka Fashion College. They explored the Nippori textile district for fabric search and shopping. The group enjoyed a cultural experience with an onsen (hot spring) in Atami. Join the Stole Society to help plan exciting trips for upcoming years. Visit @Stolesociety

By Dr Minako McCarthy

FDM program was delighted to host students from Lahaninaluna High School for a hands-on introduction to Fashion Computer-Aided Design, Electronic Textiles, and Design & Sewing.

A big thank you to Dr. Reilly, Dr. Bahng, Dr. McCarthy, Dr. Kang, and Dr. Adeleke for making this event possible. Students enjoyed an engaging sewing workshop that built on their existing skills, explored basic computer-aided design in Fashion CAD, and experimented with innovative e-textile technologies, creating their own stitched LED Smiley circuit!

It was inspiring to see the students actively learning, creating, and imagining the future of fashion and technology.

By Dr Olaitan Adeleke

On Feb 18th, the Fashion Design Merchandising program (FDM) welcomed seven students and three teachers from Maui's Baldwin High School (established in 1938) to our campus. The high school students and teachers had the opportunity to learn about the FDM program, various career pathways, and fashion computer-aided design. Dr. Reilly organized this event. Dr. Kang introduced the FDM program and led an engaging workshop in the AgSci computer lab, where participants gained hands-on experience with Optitex, an industry-standard 3D fashion design software. The Poʻo Academy at Baldwin High School in Maui houses several career pathways, including Fashion & Artisan Design, Digital Design, and Marketing Management. Thus, Baldwin High School is one of the key high schools that FDM faculty prioritize for building long-term academic relationships. Our FDM faculty actively works with many high schools across Oʻahu and Maui as part of FDM’s student recruitment and outreach strategy. From Maui to Manoa, it was a joy to have this group on campus!!

By Dr Ju-Young Kang