Tav’s has Japanese buyer with Hawaiian connections

The distinctive Tav’s label has been available in Hilo, Hawaii for the past seven years and has come to the attention of a Japanese entrepreneur named Sekino who has a variety of business interests. These include 30 stores in Japan, a well established mail order business promoting Hawaiian products and taking Hawaiian entertainers to perform in Japan.
There is an enormous amount of interest in Hawaiian culture with 500,000 people in Japan who are learning Hawaiian dance and music and many groups participate in the ‘Merrie Monarch’ dance festivals in Hilo every year.
The Tav range has been a favourite of the Japanese dancers who would buy the garments while in Hilo and wear there and in Japan and it was their wearing of the garments that brought it to the attention of Sekino.
His interest was piqued and he decided to come and see for himself and in a brief stopover in Tahiti where by chance Ellena was already on a business trip, they met and he ordered some samples. As there were so many colours and styles to consider, Ellena suggested he visit the workshop so he could see first hand how labour intensive the work was to make the final product including the fabric printing by hand, the variety of styles available and the dedication of the dressmakers.
The buyer was duly impressed and ordered further samples stocks of the size 6 and 8 garments which are to be forwarded to him very soon. Ellena also encouraged Sekino to look at other opportunities from other stores to market other quality Cook Islands products such as our rito hats and fans, pupu rengarenga to a much larger market through Sekino’s outlets in Japan. She has also invited him to attend the New Zealand Fashion Week in September 2008.

Headlines : Times 259 14 July 2008
- Attempt to shut down Scientology display
- Chief Censor prepares for changes
-Tav’s has Japanese buyer with Hawaiian connections
- Patrol boat in regional exercise
- Mysteries of Nga Marae o Rongo

Headlines : Times 258 07 July 2008
- A gift fit for a King
- Recognising the magic of Cook Islands pearls
- Power of coming together at PPA conference in August
- TAU gains landowner approval for wind farm
- QR to present Papa Ben Samuel with BEM in Penryhn

Headlines : Times 257 30 June 2008
- Proposed USP Campus expected to generate $3million annually in fees
- Manganese Nodules presentation at the Koutu Nui
- Road rebuilding to cost $1 million per kilometre
- 30 per cent savings to come from wind
- Catriona’s honeymoon getaway in Aitutaki