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Born in Honolulu, raised in Hilo from the age of 10, Alexis Akiona graduated from Waiakea High School in 2011, then moved back to Oahu. She enrolled at Kapiolani Community College, worked in retail and also as a model, and became the “face” of a local fashion line. After five years in retail she decided to create her own designs.
By her own admission, Akiona did things “backwards.” She introduced her line, Lexbreezy Hawai‘i, in 2015 at the Merrie Monarch Hula Festival. She then spent two years establishing it as she learned about the island fashion industry. After that she went back to school to get formal training while still running her business.
Akiona graduated from Honolulu Community College’s Fashion Technology program in 2019. She opened her own design studio, the Lexbreezy Fashion Hale, where she created, cut and sewed her creations, a few days later.
These days Akiona, 28, is busier than ever. She opened her first brick-and-mortar store, Lexbreezy Hawai‘i boutique, in Kailua last month, and is producing this year’s Goodwill Goes GLAM! fundraiser for Goodwill Hawaii.
An online store for the fundraiser launched Monday and continues through the end of July. New items will be posted weekly at ShopGoodwill.com/ Hawaii. A television special — “2021 Goodwill Goes GLAM!” — will premiere on July 20. For more information, go to goodwillhawaii.org/glam.
What will you be showing on July 20?
From my brand, we have over 20 looks — fun, bright tropical aloha prints — ranging from small sizes all the way to extra large, including about five looks for men, and we’re mixing in clothing from Goodwill. The GLAM sales (online) include those looks as well as other Goodwill finds.
What got you interested in working with Goodwill?
I’ve shopped at Goodwill from when I was very young. I love finding vintage alohawear and those only-in-Hawaii treasures, and the money goes back to helping our local community in Hawaii.
What made June the right time to open a brick-and-mortar store?
We were online so long that I think it was the right time to open a store where everybody can come and try on clothes and feel the fabrics. We weren’t able to do any craft fairs for two years, and so I had to think outside of the box about what was going to be my next move.
Taking a step back, you are producing Goodwill Goes GLAM!, managing your own fashion line and designs, you’ve opened a physical real-world retail store, and you are the mother of an 8-month-old child. How do you do it?
I give a lot of credit to my husband and my family. They help so much. They’re always there when we need them. My in-laws help, and my sister. They’re such a great support system.
Everyone probably asks, but how has motherhood changed you?
When I first got pregnant people said, “You won’t be able to run a business. You won’t be able to do everything.” But I think that just lit a fire under my butt, motivated me more and inspired me to do more, so (being a mother) just made me more motivated. There’s nothing that moms really can’t do. Moms are my inspiration.
Do you have a goal you are working toward as a designer?
My goal right now is to keep creating, keep inventory in my store, and figure out how to run an online store and a brick-and-mortar store all at the time same. My mission is to inspire the younger generation to wear alohawear. Everyone should wear alohawear because we live in Hawaii. Visit lexbreezyhawaii.com.
