Hawaii's Creative Industries

The Creative Industries Division (CID), DBEDT coordinated and sponsored industry specific panels and workshops featuring leaders in the areas of New Media and TV/Film Costume Design as part of its sponsorship of Hawaii Fashion Month.  Held at OUTFIT – The Hawaii Fashion Designers Market, the panel sessions are part of CID’s ongoing mission to help move Hawaii fashion forward and elevate the State as a creative center and destination.  The following are highlights of the speakers and topics discussed at the panel sessions which were held on October 2-3, 2013:

NEW MEDIA KEYNOTE Benni Leigh, Maker Studios

Benni Leigh is behind one of the country’s biggest fashion and beauty followings. As Executive Business Director; Lifestyle of Maker Studios—a next-generation, talent first media company of 60,000-plus YouTube channels and more than 6 billion monthly views—Leigh has been able to help garner an online community and Lifestyle Network, called The Platform. ThePlatform is a global beauty and fashion network bridging the gap between the high-fashion industry and the hugely engaged online community. ThePlatform is a go-to destination for original, creative lifestyle series.

THE TV/FILM COSTUME DESIGN INDUSTRY Emmy award winning designer, Giovanna Ottobre-Melton

Emmy award winning costume designer Giovanna “Gigi” Ottobre-Melton, a native to Los Angeles, began her fashion career at a young age. She spent much of her childhood at her father’s Beverly Hills atelier learning first hand the feel of luxurious European fabrics, how to sketch, and what the latest runway trends were. She was stitching up her own creations before she could ride a bicycle. By her teens lavish period films had inspired her to move in the direction of costume design.

Ottobre-Melton attended Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising where she received her degree in fashion design. Upon graduating, she opened a couture studio in West Hollywood where she designed gowns for the Royal Saudi family, fantasy wedding dresses, as well as custom work for film and television. Within a few years she traded her couture studio to fulfill the dream of full time costume design work and never looked back.

Ottobre-Melton has worked on several television series “Mob City” “Numbers,” “My Name Is Earl,” “Jack & Bobby, ” “The Handler” and her career highlight NBC series “Providence” for which she won an Emmy for costume design. In addition, her feature film credits include “The Mist,” “Breaking the Rules,” “ Children of The Corn 2, “Across the Moon.”

NEW MEDIA DISCUSSION Featuring Top Blogger, Wendy Nguyen of Wendy’s Lookbook and Benni Leigh, Maker Studios

Wendy’s Lookbook is a fashion destination for those seeking style inspiration. Passionate about juvenile justice and inspired by the world around her, fashion blogger Wendy Nguyen takes art, nature, culture, architecture, food, people, and music and fuses them into the artful expression of fashion. With a unique blend of trend-setting and social conscience, she boldly explores the world of style.

Benni Leigh is behind one of the country’s biggest fashion and beauty followings. As Executive Business Director; Lifestyle of Maker Studios—a next-generation, talent first media company of 60,000-plus YouTube channels and more than 6 billion monthly views—Leigh has been able to help garner an online community and Lifestyle Network, called The Platform. ThePlatform is a global beauty and fashion network bridging the gap between the high-fashion industry and the hugely engaged online community. ThePlatform is a go-to destination for original, creative lifestyle series.