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Pono by Joan Goodman
http://brandhabit.com/designer/4988-Pono-by-Joan-Goodman
Pono by Joan Goodman
brandhabit's interview with
Pono by Joan Goodman

PONO is Hawaiian for righteousness. Joan Goodman, creative director of Bobbi Trim LTD- a NY based button company, and head designer of the PONO accessory line lived in Hawaii back in the late seventies. PONO, as the line is called, was inspired by a close friend of the designer who epitomized the "Aloha Spirit."

She is always in good spirits even when faced with the tremendous deadlines of finishing the PONO collection simultaneously with Bobbi Trim button line. Ironically the PONO accessory collection is manufactured at the same factory in Bergamo, Italy that the buttons are made in. Joan loves "the creativity, technology and environmental consciousness of Italy," and would never sacrifice the quality for a cheaper production market.

With a full accessory collection ranging from hand bags, to necklaces, earrings and brooches, the line offers something for every budget and look. Retail prices range from $110, for a thin shell bangle and up to $850 for one of the laser cut designs. The collection has been picked up by Neiman Marcus, Saks 5th Avenue, Bergdorf Goodman and several trendy boutiques since its launch in January 2003.

In a completely inundated accessories market, PONO has created a niche and has a particular following. One such piece that Joan considers timeless is the horn bangle, which she cites as a PONO "signature." We laser them, we dye them, we leave them to their own natural beauty. We have done them from the beginning and I can see doing them for years to come." The attention to detail here is stringent. Production pieces will often be rejected if they are not in the original color as the original samples, as I have witnessed myself in the past.
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