This collection drop is coming at a moment of deep awareness for me. About myself and the brand. And I’m embarrassed to tell you that I’ve been living in somewhat of a fog for a couple of years. I think it started when we decided to close our Showroom in Manoa. And since then, it’s been a period of discovery for me. Figuring out what it is that I truly want.
The old version of myself would say, ‘I was forced into retail’ - in a moment of desperation many years ago. I was being pushed out of wholesale, account orders were getting smaller and my section in Nordstrom was also decreasing. And in order to keep my business afloat, to keep designing – I decided to try my hand at retail. It wasn't a decision I made with my whole heart, but it felt necessary and my only option.
Looking back, there are no regrets. I’m grateful for the opportunities that came along the way. For all the stores and retail locations in different locations – did you know I had a shared store in Ward Warehouse and Ala Moana Hotel? Each move, each space gave me a chance to add another skill to my entrepreneur toolbox. And led me to meeting so many new people and learning so much about what women needed in their closets.
And now that we’ve been without a physical retail location for over a year, I’ve had the time to go deeper into my personal spiritual journey. Through that, I realized I wanted something else – another dream and new goals. Closing the Manoa location allowed me to go into my cocoon and figure out what it is I wanted to do. Go back to explore and finally get back to the heart of who Allison Izu really is and what it is I want.
I thought it would be so scary to share this with you and say it out loud, but I know we’ve created a safe space here. So here goes . . . I want to expand this brand far beyond the shores of O’ahu and the U.S. I want to grow to a point where I can fully live my dream – to have the freedom and financial security to create any new design or solution to a problem that whispers to me. To follow my creativity and see where each style or product takes me. And now that it’s out there, it feels like a weight has been lifted off my shoulders. So thank you for that . . . I’m writing with tears in my eyes, because I know all of this is possible because of you. Through all the love and support you and so many others have shown me and continue to do so. We’ve created this space together, where I can share my thoughts and desires, my designs and creativity, and this business aka “my baby” with you.
Clothing really is more than just fabric – its healing, its meaningful, and it can be a protective shield. I think about that when my sweet and sensitive son wears a thick sweatshirt even on hot days, because I think it makes him feel safe. It can also be a way to express yourself – on days when you choose the bright colored top because it makes you happy. And when you need a little extra strength to get through the day so you grab your favorite pants that make you feel “bad ass.”
Which leads to sharing something else that’s difficult to say out loud. But it’s something I've finally given myself permission to fully accept. It’s my gift to be able to imagine solutions to problems, to know fabric and shape in a way that I can manipulate it to best support women and our unique and everchanging bodies.
It’s why fit sessions at our office are things we take time out of our day to do. The team and I all gather in my office, try on styles and share our thoughts and critiques. If I want to design a top to minimize the midsection, I think of my mom or this customer who approached me in the market recently. She told me how much she loves the Hannah Top and Milo Pants because she recently needed to get a colostomy bag. She bravely continued to share how both styles drape perfectly away from her tummy, so she feels more confident and “normal.”
Or when we’re talking sleeves or armholes, I think of Ash. She shared with me about always having a hard time finding tops that fit her arm/armpit area. The rest of the top would fit fine but sleeves were always too tight or the armhole would ride up and she’d end up uncomfortable and pulling at her top all day. It made her feel uncomfortable and self conscious and now we always have her try on tops to review the sleeve area.
From midsections, to armholes, to necklines and legs – I try to consider it all. This deeper clarity and awareness has allowed me to tap into my connection with my purpose and it opened my eyes to all of the “problems” I want to solve using with designs and fabrics.
So thank you for being here, for your support and for creating this safe space for me to live my purpose. This next collection is all about going “Into the Garden” for all of us. To find the moments to reconnect with our inner selves and figure out what it is that this life is calling forward for us . . . “To our becoming”
-Allison
