Wailoa Center, Hawaii Island Art Alliance and Hana Hou are presenting “A Mu‘u in Time,” an exhibition in celebration of Mu‘umu‘u Month.
The exhibition features the private mu‘umu‘u collection of Michele Zane-Faridi and Shadi Faridi of Hana Hou in Hilo and runs this Friday through Feb. 16 at Wailoa Center in Hilo.
Opening reception is from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Friday. There will be live music from Kamalani from 5:30 to 7 p.m., a mu‘umu‘u swap rack sponsored by Hana Hou and a selfie photo station, so come dressed your favorite mu‘u.
The exhibit showcases mu‘umu‘u from different eras of Hawaii’s fashion history, from the 1930s to present day. There also will be vintage lauhala accessories to complement the dresses.
This collection was started by Zane-Faridi in the mid-1960s because of her love of the vintage fabrics and styles from 1940s and ‘50s. The love for mu‘umu‘u continues with her daughter Shadi Faridi.
Faridi says she is drawn to mu‘u for many reasons. Not only is it a statement of femininity, but it is an easy garment to wear with its open and flowy design and ability to pair with a variety of accessories. Faridi also loves that it now also represents the reuse movement.
Mu‘umu‘u Month was started in 2015 by artist and designer Shannon Hiramoto of Machine Machine on Kauai. She was gifted about 70 mu‘u and instead of upcycling them as originally intended, she began wearing one for every day in January. Since that time, the “mu‘uvement” has spread, and folks across Hawaii have joined in.
“I started participating because it was something easy to contribute to and commit to documenting a thought to share with friends (each day) — a note to self almost but hoping others would benefit or be inspired by it,” Faridi said in a press release.
The public is invited to come to Wailoa Center in their favorite mu‘umu‘u or aloha wear and celebrate this iconic item in Hawaii’s fashion history.
Wailoa Center is free and open to the public during the exhibit, Monday thru Friday from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m. The center also will be open from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. this Saturday and again on Saturday, Feb. 4. For more information, please call (808) 933-0416.