Watteau Dress
Made to order, limited number available.
Based on the “fashion” Holoku, our Watteau has a modern loose body. The iconic watteau pleating down the back speaks to Hawaiian history. The back is intentionally lowered to allow for the proper wearing of a lei. Knee length. On seam pockets.
Due to the scale of the print, print placement varies on finished garments.
Print: Sunrise
100% cotton. Printed in Italy.
Wash gentle cold and hang dry.
Size Guide | Shipping & Returns
Made to order, limited number available.
Based on the “fashion” Holoku, our Watteau has a modern loose body. The iconic watteau pleating down the back speaks to Hawaiian history. The back is intentionally lowered to allow for the proper wearing of a lei. Knee length. On seam pockets.
Due to the scale of the print, print placement varies on finished garments.
Print: Sunrise
100% cotton. Printed in Italy.
Wash gentle cold and hang dry.
Size Guide | Shipping & Returns
Made to order, limited number available.
Based on the “fashion” Holoku, our Watteau has a modern loose body. The iconic watteau pleating down the back speaks to Hawaiian history. The back is intentionally lowered to allow for the proper wearing of a lei. Knee length. On seam pockets.
Due to the scale of the print, print placement varies on finished garments.
Print: Sunrise
100% cotton. Printed in Italy.
Wash gentle cold and hang dry.
Size Guide | Shipping & Returns
The Print
A new print for 2024 we wanted to capture a little bit of that sun energy to make us feel warm.
Our new sunrise print was inspired by mid century graphic panels and a faded memory of wallpaper at your grandmother’s house.
Sunrise Print detail
The Watteau
There is nothing more iconic than the watteau pleating that adorns the Hawaiian Holoku form. At first you might think this pleat is some ossified detail linked to a romanticized notion of Hawai’i’s Victorian past. In actuality the pleat has a more complex and nuanced history.
Watteau pleating was adapted by Hawaiians from 1820s missionary sacque dresses. By the mid 19th century the garment had been so naturalized it was read as “a Hawaiian dress.” Since the 1893 illegal overthrow of the Hawaiian Kingdom the pleating signals a respect for “old Hawaii.” It is, in part, kept alive in the form as a subtle protest.
