The Boutique

Tia Yamanaka was born and raised in Hilo, Hawaii. While in high school, Tia worked as a sales associate at Big Island Surf Company, which is where her initial interest in fashion began. Tia also had the opportunity to intern for Mun and Sun Co., a large manufacturer and distributor located in the fashion district of Los Angeles. As an intern for Mun and Sun Co., Tia was able to see the inner workings of the fashion industry, which deepened her obsession with fashion. After graduating from Waiakea High school in 2004, Tia began her collegiate career at the University of Hawaii at Hilo, where she earned a bachelor's degree in psychology. With her bachelor's degree in hand, Tia went on to pursue her original dream of attending the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising (FIDM) in Los Angeles, California.