Meet Rika Traxler of Island Mana Designs by Rika

Today we’d like to introduce you to Rika Traxler.

Rika, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
What inspired me to start my costume design business was a lifelong journey that started when I was 12, when I first learned Polynesian dance from Kilisitina Vainuku from Samoa. As a dancer, we had to create our own costumes and I fell in love with the culture and beautiful costumes.

Over the years, I got very skilled at it as I traveled and lived in Tahiti in my 20s and learned traditional techniques of Tahitian costume making at Tiki Village theatre in Moorea, where I danced in 2003. I was working on cruise ships traveling all around the South Pacific and decided in my early 30s to go back to school to receive my Master’s degree in Interdisciplinary Studies.

I wrote a thesis called “Clothing the Un-Clothed: The Evolution of Dance Costumes in Tahiti and Rarotonga” and that once I graduated in 2011, started my business “Island Mana Designs by Rika”. Since then, I’ve had several fashion shows in Hollywood, LA, and San Diego and started an Etsy shop called “Islandmanadesigns.” I’ve created thousands of costumes since for dancers all over the world from Europe, Asia, Middle East, Australia. South Pacific, Canada, and the US.

In 2015, I was a costume consultant for Disney’s “MOANA” movie and had to do research and provide Polynesian costume reference for the filmmakers. I also did some dance choreography and performances as well. Polynesian dance and costuming has been a lifelong passion and way of life for me and will always be.

Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It was never a smooth road. When I was 18 years old, I left home to pursue art and decided to go to Art School at the Kansas City Art Institute with no financial help from my Mom, who was a single widowed parent and a waitress.

I received a scholarship, which helped tremendously and took out student loans. I graduated with a BFA in Painting and once I graduated moved back to California. Life was a struggle trying to survive as an artist, so I took on several jobs, waitressing, working at a daycare, substitute teaching, modeling, a paper route and whatever job I can do to make ends meet while pursuing art and having art exhibitions.

When I was 23, I decided to open up a dance studio and start a Polynesian dance group. I had no idea what I was doing but people seemed to respond in big ways and I had many opportunities to travel and work on film and T.V. as a professional dancer. All the way into my 30s, my career lasted but in my mid-30s, pursued the costumes more and would travel to Bali every year to design batik sarongs and clothing and import them into the US. I did this for years.

But as an artist doing everything myself including all of the business, it has been a struggle and not easy. You have your high and low times and times when you question if you are doing the right thing. But through the struggles, I keep going and keep creating art because I can’t see myself doing anything else. This is a lifelong journey of patience and virtue.

Island Mana Designs by Rika – what should we know? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
My business concentrates on authentic Polynesian/Tahitian dance costumes and island-inspired clothing that I design and make myself. So, I am known for this. I am also a dancer, choreographer, and dance teacher as well, so I understand what dancers want.

I am most proud of building my company from nothing and creating 1000s of costumes since 2011, including costumes for Disney’s “Moana” movie”. I am known for my detail, creativity, and craftsmanship. That is what sets me apart of others. My work is described as extraordinary and different because I like to use traditional materials and make into contemporary designs.

My goal is to create costumes to be displayed in museums and fine art venues. That is my next step. Hopefully, the Bishop Museum in Hawaii would be a great start and dream for me! Another dream would be to work on the movie, “The King”, with the “Rock” who is playing King Kamehameha. I would love to work on those beautiful royal feather capes and headdresses.

What moment in your career do you look back most fondly on?
The proudest moment for me was to stand up and speak in front of all of the filmmakers of Disney’s movie “Moana” for the first time in February 2015 as a Cultural Consultant, sharing Polynesian history and culture of dance and costume traditions, answer questions and share dance movement demonstrations and material culture of Samoa, Tahiti and Tonga.

After 3 hours of this, everyone gave me many compliments and thanked me for a great presentation and this included the directors Ron Clements and John Musker. It was a surreal feeling to be there at Disney Animation Studios in the Feature Film department and meet all of the amazing creators of Disney film magic!

So, yes… that was the proudest moment of my career besides seeing my name on the credits of the movie. All of the years and lifetime of work, I did seem to make sense in these moments.

Pricing:

• Prices range from $10-$10,000 and depend on what you purchase for costumes
• Dance performances range at $200-up
• Dance class lessons range $12-15 per class

Contact Info:

• Website: www.islandmana.com
• Phone: (310) 598-0779
• Email: islandmanadesigns@gmail.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/islandmanadesigns/

Image Credit:
Stephen Wayda, Gabriel E. Encinas, Rika Traxler, Disney Studios, Bryson Kim

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