Showing off their ongoing support for the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa, local boutique Eden in Love released its newest “Eden x UH Mānoa collection,” available exclusively at the UH Mānoa Bookstore. The new merchandise items include tote bags, crossbody bags and stadium cups featuring motifs inspired by the “beautifully diverse campus offerings and student body.”
The partnership with Eden in Love—known for their collaborative pieces with local schools, businesses and organizations—began in August 2022. The Office of the Provost, Office of Admissions and the UH Mānoa Bookstore approached owners and UH alumni Tanna and Bryson Dang, to come up with new custom-designed UH Mānoa merchandise to promote student, alumni and community pride, and enhance the university’s marketing and branding efforts.
“This collaboration with Eden in Love has been a great way to showcase our support for our UHM-azing alumni and the partnerships with inter-departments. This spirit of collaboration has produced an exciting and unique design, exclusive to Eden in Love and our campus bookstore that we hope everyone will enjoy,” said Jennel Sesoko, UH Mānoa director of branding and marketing. “We value the relationships cultivated both on and off campus with our students, faculty, staff and greater community to be a part of, engaged in the celebration of school spirit and Warrior pride.”
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In April 2023, the collection initially launched with a limited release of the medium tote bag that was available for purchase at the Mānoa Experience: University Preview Day. The item was so popular that all the bags sold out within a few days. The bags are currently back in stock at the bookstore.
“It’s always a delight to be able to partner on projects at the bookstore from our very own talented UH alumni,” said Staci Yoshihara, assistant bookstore director. “After a year of collaboration, we are pleased with the products that weʻre able to offer our UH supporters.”
Strong UH alumni supporters
Celebrating their 13th year in business this year, the majority of the Eden in Love team who have worked or are now employed at the popular boutique are proud UH Mānoa alumni.
We hope that inspiring the community to support higher education in our state will come from these cheerful collaborations
—Alyssa Han, Eden in Love Creative Director/UH alumna
“It’s been a thrill to nod back to our old stomping grounds,” said Tanna Dang. “So much of who we are today is because of the foundation UH has laid for us.”
Eden in Love’s support for their hometown university began with “Bentos for the Band,” a project in 2019 led by Bryson Dang, who was a former marching band member. That turned into their recent “Aloha For Da Band” collaboration in 2022 in which exclusive UH band tote bags were created with a portion of sales benefiting the band.
In this newest Eden and UH collaboration, Creative Director Alyssa Han, also a UH alumna, spearheaded the design process.
“We were honored to create this design and once again support UH Mānoa. Not only does it encompass the school spirit and cheer but also features unique aspects of UH Mānoa including landmark Hawaiʻi Hall, its Hawaiian name, ‘Ke Kulanui o Hawaiʻi ma Mānoa’ and a hidden unicorn showing off the land, sea, sun and space grant designation,” Han said.
She added, “Beyond panels and mentorship, we hope that inspiring the community to support higher education in our state will come from these cheerful collaborations.”
The exclusive bookstore items are available in-store and online while supplies last. Eden in Love has also released additional items from the collection available for a limited time at www.edeninlove.com.
—By Arlene Abiang
