Archives for August 2022

Costume Director!

We are so excited to share Jen’s latest endeavor on Maui… She will be the new Costume Director for Alexander Academy of Performing Arts! AAPA just recently created a brand new website where you can read all about the school.

Alexander Academy’s mission is to build confidence in each student through quality dance instruction while making this education affordable. We are so happy to work together with and support a performing arts school with such a caring mission. We love supporting arts education for youth on Maui. 

Jennifer began collaborating together with AAPA’s nonprofit organization, Alexander Academy Performing Company (AAPC), last year in partnership with her nonprofit organization, The Sewing Hui. Jennifer and the volunteers of The Sewing Hui worked together to create over 80 dance costumes for AAPC’s new annual Nutcracker Ballet Production and their Summer Performance of The Sleeping Beauty. Jennifer is so excited to be continuing this new collaboration and directing the costuming efforts for their productions.

Jennifer has an extensive background in costume design, having worked in costume shops and as a designer/dressmaker for 30+ years. She started in theater, at the Shakespeare Theatre at the Folger in Washington D.C., the Washington Opera in Washington D.C., and the Old Globe in San Diego, apprenticing in the costume shops. She moved to Hollywood to create costumes for film, television and private clients. Now she runs her own dressmaking and design atelier in upcountry Maui. She is thrilled to be continuing costume designing with Alexander Academy!

I’m delighted to be joining the staff at AAPA in the role of Costume Director.  The passion that flows from Studio Director Danelle, and Artistic Directors Absalon and Amelia is contagious and evident throughout the rest of the teachers and staff.  AAPA is a lively, vibrant place, dedicated to its students.  It instills in them the love and joy of teamwork through dance and performance.  Most importantly, every student is valued for what they bring to the dance floor.  It is a pleasure to be around such a lovely, kind-hearted and professional team.” – Jennifer Oberg

Follow @aapamaui @jenniferobergatelier and @thesewinghui to stay up-to-date with costuming projects!

Discovering the Dressmakers of Maui

While ordering a plate lunch one day at Ohana Island Grindz in Makawao, we saw this map posted at the counter. It is Baldwin Avenue in Makawao town from October 27, 1931. If you look closely you can see there was a small dressmaker shop! From the map we believe it is where the Maui Cookie Lady’s shop is currently located. 

Below you can see where the dressmaker’s shop is:

From the map and the layout of town now, we think this shop is where it used to be:

We tried to dig up some more history about this little shop from the 1930s, but we couldn’t find anything. If someone has more information and would like to share with us, please get in touch with us! 

In our search, we did come across a dressmaker from back in the day named Helen T. Ikeoka. She was born in 1911 in Honolulu. She owned a retail shop in Wailuku with ready to wear infant and children’s clothing. She attended Tanabe Dressmaking School and graduated from the Hawaii Dressmakers’ Association. 

We love to discover some of the history of the past dressmakers here on Maui. Feel free to reach out if you have more information and would like to share it with us. We would love to know more!

Real Weddings: Julia + Jordan

We have so many gorgeous photos to share with you from our past clients we assisted with bridal and groom alterations! Plus, we also helped their wedding party too! Bride Julia and Groom Jordan had their wedding on June 4th, 2022. 

In addition to the bride and groom, we worked with the bride’s mother, father, and sister on alterations. We also altered her sister’s party dress for the reception. We just love getting to work with all the different people who are part of the wedding party! It is so fun to get to know the closest family and friends of the bride and groom.      

Below our some of the fabulous pictures taken by Anna Kim:

Don’t hesitate to reach out for wedding alterations for you, your partner, and your wedding party. It is our pleasure to get to work together with you and your loved ones! For all wedding-related inquiries contact us via love@jenniferoberg.com. We are available to assist with alterations, custom wedding dresses, on-site steaming and pressing services, and more. Get in touch!