Runway Dame
Oftentimes, getting ready for a special event can take hours, with the outfit decided on weeks or months in advance.
That was the case for Dr. Angela Pratt, who humbly accepted the prestigious ‘Ō‘ō Award May 10 wearing a stunning couture gown that was the result of an eight-month journey with fashion legend Giorgio Armani and his made-to-measure team.
“I’ve fallen in love with what this dress represents,” says Pratt. “The moment I met Mr. Armani, and he chose to design this gown for me, he told me: ‘This isn’t just about creating a dress. It is a journey you will embark upon with me and the Armani team. It’s an experience where I create a design weaving my vision of Hawai‘i and its culture, into a beautiful green gown that embodies the beauty of Hawai‘i.”
Rooted in Paris, the couture world is very exclusive. Designs are one-of-a-kind and made specific to each person.
Pratt’s gown was inspired by Armani’s Privé Collection designed with crystal beads and French silk chiffon tailored specifically to her. The lengthy process included five fittings in New York City, with the garment traveling back and forth to Milan, where they used a mannequin replica of Pratt’s body.
She also attended Fashion Week in Paris, where she met with Armani again and learned the history of haute couture. Once complete, the exquisite gown featured 22,000 beads (all sewn on by hand) and weighed 20 pounds.
“It was just an amazing experience,” she says. “While I was in Paris, I realized this whole process is how we get the clothes we wear. I had some clue before, but I had no idea all of what went into the construction of this dress.
“Also, what was so impressive to me was how Mr. Armani has become this global outreach for Native Hawaiians. This amazing, international designer embraced the Hawaiian culture and wanted to learn about it and understand it. It means so much to me that he would do this for me.”
Pratt is the first Native Hawaiian and first female to serve as chair of the Obstetrics & Gynecology Department at Kapi‘olani Medical Center for Women & Children, co-founder of Hawai‘i Beauty and Wellness Center, and clinical director of minimally invasive surgery at University of Hawai‘i’s John A. Burns School of Medicine.
A graduate of JABSOM, she also created the Angela Pratt Endowment in 2017 to support the development of OB-GYN resident training on the neighbor islands; research in Native Hawaiian women’s health; and professional development of faculty, residents and fellows.
She’s also a former beauty queen and is a supporter of the Susan G. Komen Foundation, Children’s Miracle Network and the March of Dimes.
The ‘Ō‘ō Award, presented by the Native Hawaiian Chamber of Commerce, acknowledges her significant contributions to improving the well being of Native Hawaiians and the community.
“It is an honor for me to receive this award as it represents the cultivation of Native Hawaiian values,” adds Pratt. “It touches me deeply that Armani would recognize its significance, reaching out internationally to do this for me and for Hawai‘i. I’m feeling very blessed.”