Creative Kailua Painter Moves Into E-merchandise Marketing
Kailua artist Barbara Eberhart demonstrates how to protect your iPad inside one of her classy new art clutches. Photo from Barbara Eberhart.
By SARAH PACHECO
Windward residents are no strangers to the artwork of Barbara Eberhart. Her original paintings of Hawaiian beachscapes and nature, for example, currently hang on the walls at Kalapawai Café, and a large diptych is behind the front desk at Kailua’s new Gallery 315.
Windward Unity Church also has about two dozen of the Lanikai artist’s paintings as part of its fundraiser.
Her latest exposure comes with the launch last week of a bag line by Eberhart and her daughter, Kasha Cabato.
“I grew up loving my mom’s paintings and wanting to see her unique style expanded to a broader audience,” said Cabato, a graduate of Parsons school for design in New York City. “I love fashion, so after graduating from Parsons, I recognized an opportunity to transform her work outside the fine art industry and into the realm of style.
The mother-daughter duo came up with the idea for a fully lined canvas pouch that can be used as either a fashionable clutch or functional iPad case – aimed at today’s multi-faceted woman-on-the-go. Eberhart’s most popular paintings are printed on both sides of the pouch using a high-quality permanent printing system, while the inside is fully lined with soft quilted cotton.
“Art has always been a strong influence on fashion, and I think the fact that the bags are so directly related to a piece of artwork makes them that much more special and unique,” said Cabato of the bags, which are all made by hand in Hawaii.
“We believe in keeping the manufacturing local, rather than using some big factory overseas,” Eberhart said. “That way, we have more control over the quality of each bag. (But) most importantly, we wanted to offer a product that we are really proud of.”
Barbara Eberhart Bags are available at Fighting Eel and Island Treasures in Kailua, or online at barbaraeberhart.com/bags.html.
