Press

Reimagining Vintage Kimonos, One Stunning Piece at a Time BY JENNA BAER // 06.13.24 In a dazzling fusion of culture and couture, Houston-based luxury brand Kimono Zulu, led by stylist Tina Zulu, transformed Neiman Marcus into a vibrant celebration of Asian American & Pacific Islander Heritage Month with a stunning fashion exhibition. Zulu welcomed attendees to a collection of flowy, floor-length kimonos, blending vintage styles with modern and abstract patterns. Attendees and models alike adorned themselves with contemporary kimonos, engaging in lively conversation while examining mannequins covered in vibrant silks. Models in “Vibrant Peony Cocoon Coat Dress” (left) and “Boudoir Doll Cocoon Coat Dress” (right) designed by Judy Masliyah at Kimono Zulu fashion exhibition at Neiman Marcus. (Photo by Wilson...

There’s a new wave of community-minded small boutiques in town where you can feel good about spending your dollars. HOUSTON’S SHOPPING SCENE has been invigorated by a new wave of independent stores that celebrate creativity, community, and homegrown talent. These are not your typical big-box stores: they’re spaces for local makers, artisans, and crafters to showcase their work. From upcycled clothing and handcrafted jewelry to all the candle options (so many candles!) and home goods your heart desires, these establishments are a testament to the city’s diverse and entrepreneurial spirit. The Pop-Up Co-Op HEIGHTS   The Pop-Up Co-Op, which relocated to M-K-T Heights last year from Upper Kirby, continues its dedication to offering eclectic fashion, accessories, art, and home decor, sourcing everything from...

WATCH the segment as seen on KPRC, Ch. 2 on May 17, 2023: https://www.click2houston.com/houston-life/2023/05/17/kimono-fashion-show/ Special Thanks to Models:  Zoe Jackson, Shannon Rodriguez, Karla Modesto and Axel Garcia HOUSTON – In honor of Asian American and Pacific Islander heritage month Houston Life is highlighting two talented local designers whose work is being showcased this weekend at the ASCEND AAPI Spring fashion show, Anthony Pabillano and Tina Zulu.Anthony Pabillano is a Houston-based Filipino artist and accessories designer who currently explores weaving in the style of the Philippine bayong, a traditional bag made from dried leaves. Pabillano is redefining these bags through his use of unexpected materials and forms and turning them into chic handbags.Tina Zulu is a Filipina-American stylist and designer known for...

Besides the alluring finds in fields and barns, this fall’s Round Top Antiques + Design Show was defined by exciting events with a side of country. Cue The Halles, where PaperCity magazine and Round Top Publishers created a series of unique evenings to lure show-goers. Among this curated list was an exciting bespoke boutique shopping experience dubbed Sip & Shop, which drew a crowd of ardent fashion seekers.The buzz swirled around a roster of national to Texas boutiques and purveyors: Creativo Concept by Micheline Ferrand Newall, Los Angeles’ Decades by Cameron Silver represented by Erica Levit, Kimono Zulu + Magpies & Peacocks’ Tina Zulu and Ahshia Berry, Lo La Clothing owned by Leah Malasko, Lancaster, Pennsylvania-based Lady Lancaster founded by...

People mingled in The Halles’ VIP Pavilion, which looks out upon a bucolic meadow. The cows had gone to bed for the night, but the stars shone overhead. Among Round Top’s signature bashes are PaperCity‘s biannual fêtes that mark the finales for each fall and spring’s Antiques Show. This year, with the addition of Round Top Publishers under the magazine’s wings and the signature event space The Halles on Texas Highway 237, the soirée took on fresh spin.A renewed festive fall gathering was in order, taking place at The Halles’ VIP Pavilion, a handsome barn-like structure featuring historic, reclaimed beams. It is a building inspired by the legendary dance halls of Texas.To top off the party palette, Benjamin Moore stepped...

The pandemic took half of Sameera Faridi’s business.After 17 years of operating her Poshak Fashion & Style boutique specializing in bridal, Faridi, like many fashion designers, found herself with few customers and an unsettling reality about the future of fashion.Weddings canceled. Some shops closed permanently.To adjust, she relocated her boutique and her Sameera Faridi Design Studio, both focused on South Asian fashion, to a nearby space on Hillcroft with lower rent and more square footage.That was something positive, Faridi said. But there many negatives.“Everyone was so doubtful. We’re lucky to have survived the wave,” she said.Faridi, a native of Pakistan, will be one of four designers featured in Houston First’s AAPI Amplified Fashion Show May 22 in front of the...

The owner of Kimono Zulu, Tina Zulu is presenting a collection of reimagined vintage Japanese kimonos at Houston First Corporation’s Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage celebration “AAPI Amplified”on June 5 at Avenida Plaza outside the George R. Brown Convention Center.A special 7 pm fashion show will also showcase other Asian American Pacific Islander designers — Danny Nguyen Couture, Mysterious by NPN and Poshak Fashion & Style. Kimono Zulu’s collection features one-of-a-kind, wearable art created in collaboration with six artists of Asian descent: Dandee Warhol, My Ori Story, Royal Sumikat, Uyen-My Pham, Matt Manalo, and Janavi Folmsbee. Plus, contemporary artists and fashion designers including David Adickes, GONZO247, Judy Masliyah, Selven O’Keef Jarmon, Reginald C. Adams, Sebastien “Mr.D 1987” Boileau, Shelbi Nicole,...

When COVID-19 struck, it hurt many local businesses’ abilities to produce and sell products. But a unique fashion trend — matching masks — is all over the Internet right now, catering to the global pandemic we’re living in. Now a Houston brand is getting into the mix. Kimono Zulu, which focuses on modern styling and reimagining ways to style a kimono, is adapting its styles to these coronavirus times. Creator Tina Zulu wanted to create a new collection centered around our new normals. Ideal for running errands and going out on the town, Kimono Zulu’s latest looks allow people to social distance with a matching kimono-and-mask set. Tina Zulu reached out to a longtime friend and art-collaboration partner,  fashion designer Selven O’Keef Jarmon, to...

From Topshop to Gucci, everyone’s in love with the relaxed-chic look of kimonos, but few are as cool as the vintage versions that Houstonian Tina Zulu of Kimono Zulu snags from Japan. Each is one-of-a-kind and straight-up stunning.

Source: Houstonia Magazine https://www.houstoniamag.com