In 2002, I traveled to London and Paris with a group of University of Hawai'i-Manoa fashion design students. It was an inspiring trip for the students, imbuing them with a sense of fashion history and immersing them in what was current in the ever-changing world of fashion. Visits to the Musee de la Mode, Victoria & Albert Museum and the ateliers of Vivienne Westwood and Zandra Rhodes provided untold inspiration for all of us.

Kevin Sanada was among those students, and for him the trip opened up another window of opportunity: the field of industrial design. He was constantly looking at the interiors of the fabulous Paris and London boutiques, checking out the lighting, store fixtures and furnishings. During subsequent years he has used a lot of this inspiration in his job as a visual merchandiser for Diesel in Honolulu and New York.

Now he has plunged into the world of interior design, creating the interiors for Salon Blanc, Honolulu's newest hair salon, located in the Hokua building on the corner of Auahi Street and Ala Moana Boulevard.

The simple, minimalist interior is designed to be a blank canvas, he said, seeking to address "the creation of a dynamic and flexible work environment." His design aesthetic strives to "achieve a dynamic space, created around the notion that the environment (set and setting) not only influences the work, but becomes a necessary component in the creative process."

A clean, stark palette of white splashed with black offers a crisp, contemporary setting. Details such as graceful Icarus lamps and waterfall basins give the space an unusual edge.

Owners Alan Vuong, Mia Kim and Monica Nguyen (all formerly with CHOP Salon) are excited about the new space and find it in keeping with their personal aesthetic.

The salon offers complete hair services, as well as a facial room. Highly coveted Kerastase and Shu Uemura hair products are offered in the hair salon, while Dermalogica and Sothys products are used in the facial room.

Find them at 1288 Ala Moana Blvd., Suite 100; 593-2100.