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David Shepard ’09 Visits Canterbury
On Tuesday, September 10, 2024, David Shepard ’09 returned to his hometown of Fort Myers and stopped by Canterbury to speak with Upper School students about his journey as both an artist and fashion designer. Shepard shared how his background in botany has shaped his creative process, allowing him to infuse purpose into his clothing, telling meaningful stories with each piece. He also emphasized the importance of scalable designs, explaining how each drawing opens up new possibilities for creativity.
Shepard's message to students was clear: life sometimes presents unexpected opportunities, and by embracing them, you may be surprised at what you can achieve.
As a Hawai‘i-based designer, Shepard hand-draws intricate representations of native Hawaiian plants, which are printed on natural fiber fabrics to create sustainable, meaningful clothing. Each piece is designed and sewn in Hawai‘i, and a portion of proceeds is donated annually to Hawai‘i conservation organizations. Committed to slow fashion, David Shepard Hawai‘i promotes environmental stewardship and supports local ecosystems.
With a Master’s in Horticulture from the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa, Shepard’s work at Limahuli Garden, Kalaupapa National Park, and Lyon Arboretum led him to tell stories through his designs. His aloha wear and Hawaiian shirts serve as conversation starters, bringing Hawai‘i’s rich landscapes into timeless, contemporary clothing.
David’s mission is to "raise awareness and appreciation of rare and endangered native Hawaiian plants, encourage environmental stewardship, promote Hawaiian values, and create a platform for the people and organizations that do this inspiring work.”
“Work is love made visible… it is to weave the cloth with threads drawn from your heart, even as if your beloved were to wear that cloth.” — Kahlil Gibran
To learn more about David Shepard and his work, visit davidshepardhawaii.com.
