I technically didn't go to school for what I’m doing now . . . it wasn't what I had initially planned when I decided to apply for design school. Being a “small town” girl growing up in Hawaii, when I thought of fashion I was transported to handmade wedding gowns and couture ateliers of Paris - this is what I envisioned when I decided I wanted to be a fashion designer.  It was way before the TV show, Project Runway. Fashion design was such an unrealistic profession that when I finally graduated, people at home would ask if I could ‘hem their pants’ because all they knew about fashion was sewing. I don't know why I chose Design Studio or couture to focus my studies on, maybe it was the dream of becoming a wedding dress designer, or maybe it was the connection to my upbringing and ancestry - always being at arm’s length to the silk kimonos that my aunty kept wrapped in tissue and stored in boxes. And when we finally could touch them, I remember being in awe of the silk and the hand stitching (that you could never really see), the way they could use a thicker fabric inside to make the collar stand straight, but the silk was thin and almost see through. The idea of being able to take something one-dimensional like fabric and force it into different shapes fascinated me. The reason I’m telling you this story is because I was technically trained to work in a couture house. The word couture is a French word meaning “dressmaking” or “sewing”. It refers to the design, creation, and sale of custom-made, high-end, and exclusive fashion that is meticulously crafted by hand for a specific client.  At school, we were assigned a fit model at the beginning of the year, and every lesson, every technical skill we learned was to be used to make a high-end, custom garment for a specific person. I realize now that my gift lies in being able to use all of the technical skills I’ve been taught - on how to use darts, seams, pleats and gathers to shape a flat one-dimensional fabric into pieces that flatter the body. I didn't learn how to mass produce garments, I learned how to use fabric to obtain a specific end result, no matter the cost, time, or effort. And that is what I do today, not just for one specific person and not in a high-end exclusive way. I think my purpose was to take my fascination with fabric, my technical skills and my experiences as an aging woman - to make customized garments for more women. Something that is reserved for a specific group of people, I wanted to make it accessible to women without the unlimited bank account. I know some of you would still say that our prices are “expensive” but if you could understand the level of consideration, thought, time and craftsmanship that is put into each piece, you’d be able to see its immense value. From my discerning taste (pickiness) for quality fabrics, to my creating patterns and shapes that are needed - no shortcuts or compromises. If the style needs a wider armhole, it's an intentional choice (even though it may cost more to make). We know that each choice in our patterns is deliberate and needed. And for years, as an entrepreneur - I’ve avoided raising our prices, absorbing the rising cost of fabric, shipping and manufacturing. As we have worked to expand our reach, we have come to the realization that we do not currently make a profit - something I can no longer overlook. It was a priority of mine to offer high quality garments at an affordable price and we have worked for years to protect this price point.So the time has come for us to make a meaningful choice — to raise our prices so we can keep the intention of our brand - high quality fabrics, intentional design, meaningful design choices and quality craftsmanship (we still make our garments in the USA). With that being said, we wanted to offer you the last of our current styles at their current pricing - some styles have been additionally marked down. As we move to increase our pricing it comes with other benefits as well - more custom colors, more custom prints, and hopefully being able to expand our product offering, to carry more styles at one time. We’re constantly working to find better fabric partners, better factories and more opportunities to continue to offer you the highest quality garment for the most comparable price.  As a team, it’s our mission to offer styles that feel like they were made just for you — even though you're not able to step into a Paris atelier.  That is my hope, that is my dream, I thank you for your continued support of me, this team and this brand.  

I've recently been re-reading old spiritual books from years ago, and as I'm flipping through the pages, it's as if I'm reading them for the first time. At first, I was a little annoyed at myself — did I not retain any of the information I'd previously read? But then I realized: I'm a totally different person than I was when I first read these books, and so it is like they're new to me. The parts I'm now finding most meaningful, I may have overlooked or skimmed right past years before. And through this process, I realized I needed to pause and listen to the self-talk that goes on in my head. What I used to think of as a "motivating voice" now has a flavor of being rude and overbearing — as if this voice has been pushing me toward the goal rather than guiding me through it. And although it used to feel motivating, it's now something I don't want to participate in. Because it's not always about reaching the goal — in this case, finishing the book. It's more about going through the complete process of learning and growing. My mind, my outlook, and my perception of life are ever-changing. It's like I’m circling the same lesson — or the same book — multiple times. And now I’m finally able to accept that as part of my fate. And now I’m also working on reframing what it means to circle a lesson. My old motivating voice would still ask, "why can't you circle the lesson faster?" — and so I needed to shift toward something else entirely. And then it came to me: blooming. We wouldn't ask a flower to bloom faster. We wouldn't force a plant to go from bud to full bloom on our timeline — we accept every beautiful part of the process. If I could see my own learning as an act of blooming, I could find more patience and grace within it. Every morning, I take time to look at this plant outside my window that has these little white flowers on it. I find myself pausing to see where it is in its process, not asking it “why haven’t you bloomed already?” That quiet, beautiful observation is what this collection is all about. Accepting that we, as humans, are always in the process of blooming. Sometimes we’re in the quiet dormant phase. Sometimes we’re the bud, waiting ever so patiently. And then there is the bloom itself. But every part of the process is necessary and shouldn't be rushed. This concept gave me permission to accept that while I’m living this life, I hope to be infinitely blooming — and I hope you’ll be too. It's not about being a certain age or a certain size. It's not about looking at the plant next to you and comparing the color of your flowers, or body, or the stage of life you're in. It's about accepting the moment in front of you and living it fully. I have no control over how long each of my stages lasts. No control over the size of the bloom or the color. But if I allow myself to enjoy the process and simply be — maybe the whole complete journey can be joyful. And perhaps that’s what presence is all about: to welcome each moment, each step, as necessary. This collection was inspired by so many things. But the one thing I hope you carry with you is this — the hope that we may all appreciate and accept every part of our Infinite Bloom.  

Every year, Amazon Prime Day rolls around and this year it's arriving a little earlier than usual — and honestly, it got me thinking. Not about competing. Not about discounts or deals or trying to out-Amazon Amazon. But about why we do what we do, and the people who make it possible. I wouldn't say I'm "anti-Amazon" — in this day and age, it's hard to survive without the creature comforts of Amazon Prime (not to mention Prime Video — how else will Olive and I find out what happens next in The Summer I Turned Pretty? LOL!) And I did try to "give up" Amazon Prime for a year, only to realize I still needed to ship our poly mailers and tissue paper from Amazon. But I will say — I am a supporter of small business, and that stance isn't “anti” anything. It's more pro-small business. I ventured out as a small business entrepreneur over 25 years ago, and Allison Izu wasn't the first company I started. I went from creating a bespoke wedding dress company, to a surf brand, to a vintage clothing company — until I finally had the experience and the bravery to start my dream label: Allison Izu. Through all of those brands, it’s always been the customers who made it their purpose to support small businesses that allowed me to succeed. From countless craft fairs where only a handful of people would stop by, to eventually doing enough of them that people started to notice and seek me out. I can't describe the feeling of accomplishment when that started to happen. It still catches me off guard — in the best way — when someone recognizes me at the market or the mall and tells me how much they love the clothing. It's because of people like you, who choose to support small, that I'm able to dream the big dream. Saying "thank you" kinda pales in comparison to everything you've given to brands like mine — but it still needs to be said. THANK YOU. When I think about my journey, it's your faces that bring me the most joy and the deepest sense of gratitude. Whether you've been here from the very beginning or just found us yesterday — the appreciation runs deep.  So, as a small business navigating Prime Deals week, I just want to say: thank you for choosing to support small — whether that's shopping with Allison Izu, supporting your local bookstore or picking up fruit at the farmers market. I know it takes time out of your busy day, and sometimes a little extra money, to shop small. But I can honestly say the owners and the people behind these businesses feel it. Every single time. Wholeheartedly. With love + light,Allison PS: we're celebrating the season with our Summer Savings event, dropping soon. New markdowns, a little extra off, and a chance to shop in a way that feels good. We hope it does.

Permission . . . It may seem like a weird thing to talk about but it’s something that keeps showing up for me. I didn't realize how much I hesitated and waited for permission. And upon exploring this a little more, I asked myself, “who am I waiting to gain permission from?”  It’s obvious I’m no longer a child, needing permission from my parents or teachers, or even my friends. And my marriage is not the type where I need to ask my husband for his approval, so where did this nagging feeling come from? This past weekend, I had my nephew’s graduation lunch. It was at Morton’s and I was excited to not only celebrate his achievements but also to get dressed up and go out with my family. (I don’t get out much - LOL!) I already knew I was going to wear something from the new collection. I love the colors we ended up doing and when I took a photo of Ash in this outfit for our website, I knew I wanted to wear a monochromatic look with the Jana Top and Milo Pants.  So come the morning of the lunch, I put the outfit on and I felt . . . awkward. Awkward was definitely not the feeling I was expecting so I checked in with myself. Do I feel too dressed up?  Ashamed that this outfit might make me “stand out” too much?  This was weird territory for me. I like to think of myself as fashionably brave and willing to take risks, so why did I feel uneasy? So I knocked on my daughter's bedroom door to see what she was wearing and to show her my outfit. I asked “is this too much?” And she immediately responded with “wow mom, you look nice!” And as I processed her compliment, I felt even more self-conscious . . . What’s happening??  So I asked about my shoe options. Olive always leans to the “reasonable” choice, but this time she asked me how I wanted to feel. Mmm, what insightful advice.  I wanted to feel comfortable and at ease. And that led me to choose my combat boots – a little edge to the feminine Jana and Milo pairing. I walked out the door feeling like myself.  And it hit me later – I had been waiting for someone to give me permission to feel good in what I was wearing. My daughter, my reflection, someone. But Olive didn’t give me permission. She just asked the right question, and I found it myself.  What stayed with me was how automatic it was — the hesitation, the need to change and move away from what I wanted. Waiting for permission, the need for approval from someone. And I think this happens to a lot of us, whether we’re aware of it or not. That quiet voice asking is this too much? before we’ve even left the house. I’m learning to hear it – and then gently work to release it. And if you find yourself doing the same thing, I hope this inspires you to give yourself permission to look or feel a certain way; to gain your own approval for feeling beautiful and to sit in the wonderful feeling of joy. This is what I think fashion can do for our lives, to open a small window in which we can allow ourselves this moment of joy and beauty.  So the next time you love an outfit and immediately wonder if it’s “extra” or “too much” – sit with it for a second. The approval you’re looking for? It’s already yours.