Honolulu Weekly

Sugarcane / Decreasing your carbon footprint can involve tedious tasks (like sorting recyclables) and dirty jobs (like tending a compost heap) but a new boutique located behind Big City Diner Kaimuki is helping consumers reduce, reuse and recycle in style. That’s because Sugarcane sells an eclectic variety of modern and vintage clothing and home accents, all of which are previously owned, locally made or constructed from recycled and other eco-friendly materials.

“I like things that make me smile, that are cheery and fun,” said Faith Scheiblich, who opened Sugarcane in August.
It was just a year ago that Scheiblich moved from Sonoma, Calif., where she owned a children’s clothing store. After noticing a relative lack of places that sold both new and used items on the island, she knew what kind of business she wanted to start. Scheiblich’s Sugarcane has a touch of shabby chic, a dash of Hawaiiana and a pinch of kitsch blended with a hearty helping of environmental friendliness.

Mostly everything you’ll find at this tiny store has an eco-friendly undertone. Even the store’s fixtures are made from refurbished items that Scheiblich and her husband found. You can find delicate necklaces made from antique knick-knacks and screen-printed natural canvas tote bags. The most popular items are the one-of-a-kind aprons made by Funktion, a design duo based in California.

When it comes to clothing, Scheiblich usually picks used high-end labels like Ella Moss and Michael Kors. For new clothing, she goes for brands such as Mi Cielo, which makes embellished onesies, which complement her store’s ambiance.

Scheiblich accepts previously-owned furniture, dishware and women’s clothing and sells these items on consignment, giving the original owner half of the selling price.

“I get so much joy out of seeing something go on and have a new life,” she said.

From locally made clothing to clean-burning beeswax candles, Sugarcane is helping people go green, feel cool and avoid going broke. Scheiblich admitted that she occasionally finds herself reminding customers of the importance of choosing sustainable and recycled products rather than their inexpensive, lower-quality and planet-harming counterparts.

“I have taken on the role to educate people,” she said. “I’m okay with that.”