21-04-2025
Amid economic uncertainty local floral, fashion businesses persist
HONOLULU (KHON2) — The Chinese Chamber of Commerce celebrated its 75th Narcissus Festival anniversary, providing a spotlight to two industries that may be feeling the effects of tariffs: fashion and florals.
The Chamber's Blossoms and Couture show highlighted talent in both fields, with many vendors at the event relying on raw materials from Asia. Their reliance on overseas materials creates a hazy future, which leaves some business owners like Naomi Shishido unsure of the sustainability of their products.
Tariffs on imports raise cost of cut flowers in Hawaii
'I haven't gone [to Japan] this year, since this new president. I haven't gone back,' Shishido said. 'I have so much inventory now. As soon as that runs out, I don't know what's going to happen.'
Despite the economic uncertainty, leaders in the industry such as Barinna Poon of the Hong Kong Business Association are looking forward to good-faith negotiations between the states and China.
'There's no certainty, but I think China and U.S. are such big economic leaders that eventually they will come to the table,' Poon said.
In the meantime, the Chinese Chamber of Commerce is working to uplift and create opportunities for local businesses who may see tough times in their forecasts.'We're trying to be there for the Chinatown businesses, the local businesses that will be impacted by these uncertain times,' said Michael Young of the Chinese Chamber of Commerce. 'So we want to be a resource for them, providing information and guidance to the support they need.'
Boosts like their event combining fashion and florals is one way the Chamber is able to uplift local businesses and creatives, who have already had to endure difficult times. For fashion designer Anne Namba, she has persisted for 30 years through inflation, recessions, COVID and the regular ups and downs of the local economy.
While Namba's doors have stayed open through many turbulent times, she is not sure how her business will face the threat of tariffs.
'I do get a lot of my goods coming from Korea, China, Japan. So I don't know yet,' Namba said.
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Floral designers were able to showcase their artistry with wearable tropicals at the event, with the flowers donated by Watanabe Floral. Despite the stunning flowers found in the islands, Hawaiʻi's floriculture industry is showing an almost 50% decline in total sales over the past several years.
Despite the decline in the local floriculture industry, designers from the mainland are impressed with Hawaiʻi's flora, giving some encouragement to local growers.
'All of the tropical flowers we love to have are here,' said Lily Chan, a floral designer from San Francisco. 'Sometimes it's more expensive to ship to the Bay Area, but all of the tropical flowers we love are here.'
The Chamber hopes that by offering events like the floral fashion event, as well as new markets and encouraging innovation, local businesses will be able to have a tariff buffer, allowing them to thrive.
'We're carrying on, being creative and positive, and going to do what we always do,' Namba said. 'So we'll see.'
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