"I'm psychotic" about recycling, says Deborah Mascia, co-owner and designer of the new Kailua shop Mu'umu'u Heaven. "There are so many wonderful things on the planet to reuse."

And she does that with style. Mascia deconstructs vintage aloha wear to make contemporary clothing. "It's an alternative to aloha attire, for when you want to wear something tropical but not shapeless," Deborah explained in her diluted Aussie accent. She finds her fabrics at estate sales, thrift and vintage shops, and through friends who alert her to yard sales and roadside finds.

Each sundress, skirt and top is one of a kind, cut and sewn to maintain some of the character of the original piece. The feminine clothes reflect Deborah's belief that "I was born in the wrong time. I am a huge fan of the '50s." The tea-length dresses with convertible straps sell for $140 (short) and $190 (long), while skirts are $70 to $110, and tops $95.

The couple plans to keep all the merchandise in the store local. "I'm a Nazi about it," Deborah said with her infectious laugh. At the moment, they are carrying bags by Kailua designer Denise Tjarks, who also uses vintage fabrics.

The store itself is a recycling showcase — fixtures are 98 percent recycled, and the couple's visual merchandising concepts began as detritus collected from the side of the road or from store and hotel trash bins.

As new parents (16-month-old son Zachariah was born the day Mu'umu'u Heaven's Web site went up), the Mascias wanted to create a space that was also child-friendly. In the back of the retail area is a large office for Eric, a cutting table and sewing room for Deborah and a charming "powder room" furnished with a TV cabinet found at a Salvation Army store.

In addition to the recycled clothing, Deborah turns old LP record covers into sketchbooks as gift items. She has deconstructed vintage jewelry and refashioned the pieces into necklaces, bracelets and earrings. Rather than using disposable plastic or paper bags, every item purchased at Mu'umu'u Heaven is tucked into a fabric bag sewn by Deborah from old garments.

Reach Paula Rath at paularath@aol.com.