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Unique Goin Left open in Lahaina

By Staff | Oct 1, 2015

Founded by Jennifer Yi and Joe Makarewicz, Goin Left strives to inspire creativity and promote an active lifestyle.

LAHAINA – Goin Left, an active lifestyle store and new wave shop with an art scene, recently opened at 143 Dickenson St. in Lahaina.

The store features surf, skateboarding and camping products, as well as original items in the Goin Left brand.

Owner Jennifer Yi explained, “It’s a story about Maui, emphasizing a utilitarian lifestyle, yet encompassing beautiful and conscious elements of style. It is a community-driven store that sponsors activities and promotes a sense of fellowship within an active lifestyle.”

Yi was born and raised in the south suburbs of Chicago, Illinois. She attended the Illinois Institute of Art in Chicago and graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in Fine Art-Fashion Design.

Upon graduation, she spent the next ten years in New York City. Yi said she pursued the dream of working as a “fashion slave” for various companies, including for designers Nanette Lepore and Catherine Malandrino, and specialized in design and fabrics.

The new store combines art, fashion and active lifestyle offerings.

After scouring the world for the most obscure and exciting bazaars and boutiques, it was always a goal to open up her own shop.

No matter where the shop would be located, the themes would always be modified, she said, and most importantly, encompass her eccentric taste for utilitarian, beautiful and conscious elements of style.

Upon moving to Lahaina, Yi said it was evident that a new wave shop with an art scene didn’t exist. With that in mind, and after almost two years of observing the cycles and patterns of consumerism of the island, she made the decision to open Goin Left.

Also involved in Goin Left is Joe Makarewicz from Grand Rapids, Michigan. After high school, he moved to Chicago influenced by the art and music scenes there.

He soon was put on the Character Skateboards team as one of its first team riders. Testing shapes of decks and helping to market the company, he spent nearly three years touring the country.

Makarewicz and some friends then started a counter culture art gallery/performance space, hosting and curating artists and musicians from all over the world and helping to continue the creativity of the city that originally inspired him to move there.

He then moved to focus on music, playing in many bands, and recording projects. In 2009, Makarewicz decided it was time for a change and chose to move to Maui to pursue his dream of surfing.

Jennifer and Joe met over 13 years ago in Chicago. They were once parts of artistic scenes in urban settings, and somehow got reconnected in a tropical dwelling.

Goin Left holds monthly Second Friday art shows at the shop, featuring local and international artists of all mediums.

The store is open Sunday through Thursday from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., and Friday and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. For information, call (808) 868-3805?or visit www.goinleft.com.