To Kei Hawaii

■ Business Story

1993

Incorporated Designed by Kei Corporation in Honolulu, Hawaii, based on custom made fashion design work. Took custom orders from individual clients.

Increased gross sales by custom designs for company uniforms. This formed the business base for a new original line of clothing which was launched in 1998 under the name Be Aloha.

1998

With the launch of Be Aloha we opened a studio shop in Honolulu, Hawaii. At the time we opened the studio, Hawaiian culture became a booming business in Japan. This helped to build our gross sales with a dramatic increase in exports of Hawaiian style apparel to Japan.

Word of mouth business led to Be Aloha being featured in several magazines in Japan such as “An an“, “Tokyo Walker“, “Very“, “CanCan“, “Hulalea“, “Sutekina Hawaii Style“, and “Hawaii Aloha Express”.

2001

Took individual orders for first Aloha shirts for renowned actor Ken Takakura.

2003

At the request of clientele Be Aloha held a trunk sale at the gallery LaMaison in Tokyo, Japan. Clients loved the concept of Be Aloha and the clothing line. It was their love of the product that helped Be Aloha to grow and grow.

2006

In the interest of developing new products for the Be Aloha brand, in 2006 the company shifted its focus to the design and production of casual cosmopolitan clothing through a new brand called To Kei.

Be Aloha was featured in “Rashin” magazine in a four page article that introduced the clothing line and covered the lifestyle of proprietor Kei Kinoshita.

2009

Established new brand 'To kei' to bring skill, high end fashion, and the concept of Haute Couture which gives a modern spin on ordinary images of aloha shirts and muumuus. With 'To kei' we have aimed to break new ground in Hawaiian fashion.

2009 April

Invited by the Princess Kaiulani Fashion Inc,to attend in conjunction with the 50th Anniversary of state hood charity fashion show as an up and coming future Hawaiian clothing designer.

2011 January

Commissioned to design for stage wear to ukulele artist Jake Shimabukuro.
First Fashion Exbition in Tokyo successfully completed.

2011 March

Open new store [To-kei boutique Honolulu] is open in Honolulu and
simultaneously in Tokyo [To-kei boutique @ Omotesando in Ex-room] on March 5th.