About this speaker
Anne Yuri Namba was born in Hawaiʻi, but spent much of her youth in Bangkok, Thailand and Tehran, Iran. After finishing her studies at the University of Hawaiʻi, Anne graduated cum laude from the prestigious Fashion Institute of Technology in New York. Her last year in New York was spent working in the costume department at Radio City Music Hall. In 1985, Anne returned to Hawaiʻi and spent a year working for Malahini Hawaii, one of the state’s largest garment manufacturers. After leaving Malahini and while working out of her parents’ home, Anne started designing her own line of one-of-a-kind garments made from vintage Japanese kimonos and obis. Finally, in 1989, Anne opened her Honolulu boutique in the beautiful Mānoa Valley and Anne Namba Designs was born. Her collections have appeared in Bergdorf-Goodman, Macy’s West, the Saks Fifth avenue Folio Catalog, Nordstrom, Liberty House, and I. Magnin Stores. She has shown her designs in Beijing, Hong Kong, Tokyo, Singapore, and many mainland U.S. cities.
