Island Treasures: True Hawaii Blue—Waimea

By Le‘a Gleason

Jamie Hoskinson has always worn an apron. She grew up a farm girl in Mt. Hood, Oregon and wore her first apron as a child while making plum jam with Grandma. Later, she sold strawberries on the roadside and kept change in her apron pockets. As a teenager, she worked in a diner and wore an apron she learned how to make in home economics class. As an adult, while cleaning homes, clients would ask her where she got her apron.

“I made it!” she would reply.

That was the inspiration for True Hawaii Blue, Jamie’s apron and handbag business. The products can be found online or at her pop-up boutique at the Waimea Farmers’ Market Saturdays from 7:30am–12:30pm.

“My aprons are handcrafted with great care: double-stitched, high-quality, beautiful and unique fabrics, lined (most), and made with love. An apron is more than something you wear. It is a representation of a time in someone’s life that will leave an everlasting empression,” Jamie says.

Each apron is unique, made with fun, flashy fabric and functional design that’s a little bit reminiscent of grandma’s apron. The variety of designs offer something for everyone, from functional to frilly. Fabric prints range from gorgeous Hawaiian flowers to cute kitchen instruments, to girly paisley. For the male chefs, there’s beautiful “kanaka” or koa surfboards print.

Jamie also makes functional and fashionable fabric handbags in a range of sizes and prints. To name a few, there’s “hootie owl”, made with pink and white owl print fabric and green accents. “Funny cats in purple” features comic-like cats lounging on white fabric with purple accents.

For Jamie, True Hawaii Blue is more than a job.

“I have a passion for my business, and every day that I create a design and sew it together is full of joy. I am thrilled to set up my little pop-up boutique each weekend and see who appreciates and purchases my aprons and handbags. It really brings it all full circle with the feeling of, ‘oh, so that’s who I made that for!’” she says.

Jamie also sells simple, yet elegant sterling silver wire earrings with gemstones and beads, and her daughter Lily’s Flower Crowns. All are handcrafted, unique, top quality, and reasonably priced. They can also be purchased by visiting Jamie’s website.

True Hawaii Blue
Waimea
truehawaiiblue@gmail.com
TrueHawaiiBlue.com