Trailblazers & Inspirations

A Reflection for Women's History Month.

Now more than ever, I think we need to spread more light into the world. This month, we dedicate a spotlight to women—our accomplishments, our journey to equality, and our collective dreams for a better future.

When the team asked me to write something for Women’s History Month, I started writing and I have to be honest - it was taking a turn for the worse. I was reviewing the history of women’s rights and I started to get frustrated, wondering—have women truly gained equality? And during this moment in history, it can sometimes feel scary like we’re going backwards. The progress we’ve made can feel slow, even uncertain. But after reflecting with my team, I re-focused. Rather than dwell on the struggles, I want to highlight the hope, resilience, and inspiring stories of the women who have shaped my journey. And have this blog be a part of the light that guides us to a better world, a better future for ALL.

Growing up before social media, my access to role models came from newspapers, magazines, and encyclopedias. Of course, my mom, grandmother, and sister were more direct sources of influences, along with amazing teachers. But I also remember learning about Patsy Mink. Seeing someone from my small home state on a national platform made bigger dreams feel possible. Her work in passing Title IX paved the way for women to demand equality in more spaces traditionally dominated by men. Her words resonate deeply with me: “What you endure is who you are. I can't change the past. But I can certainly help somebody else in the future so they don't have to go through what I did.” Knowing that your actions today can affect positive change in the future or in someone else’s life is a beautiful thing, something that I work to live by everyday.

Another notable Asian American woman who has inspired me is Vera Wang. As a young designer, I struggled to see a place for myself in the industry. Vera Wang changed that. She launched her bridal brand at 40, proving that it’s never too late to chase your dreams. Her transition from Vogue and Ralph Lauren to starting her own company was bold and inspiring. She reshaped the bridal industry, and her commitment to craftsmanship fueled my own passion for design. After graduating, I returned to Hawaii to design and hand-make wedding gowns. While couture fashion wasn’t widely embraced here at the time, the technical skills I developed continue to influence my designs today. Vera Wang once said, “A woman is never sexier than when she is comfortable in her clothes.” This philosophy is embedded in my approach—fashion should empower, not restrict. She was my connection into the world of couture, the example that  showed me it was possible to dream a bigger dream. 

Of course, I can’t talk about fashion without mentioning Coco Chanel. In the 1920s, women designers were rare, and fashion was predominantly male-dominated. Yet, Coco Chanel revolutionized women’s fashion, prioritizing comfort and elegance. She was the first to use jersey fabric—originally made for men’s underwear—to create stylish, practical clothing for women. Her yacht pants freed women from skirts, allowing them to participate in sports and work more comfortably. Her work shifted societal norms and Chanel’s belief that “Fashion is architecture; it is a matter of proportions” shaped my own design philosophy. Fashion is about creating shapes and silhouettes that complement the wearer. Too often, when clothing doesn’t fit right, women blame their bodies when, in reality, it’s the design that is flawed. My goal has always been to craft designs that celebrate diverse body shapes, particularly for petite women like me.

This is what inspired me throughout design school. Being able to take a flat piece of fabric and folding, shaping and seaming it to create a flattering shape for the wearer. This is where my understanding of design stems from, knowing that if something doesn't look right on your body - it's not your body, it's the architect of the design that is wrong. My goal has always been to be the architect of designs that will work for the unique (and many) shapes of women. To know that our industry uses one standard fit model always frustrated me.

It has always been about freeing women from the confines of “cookie cutter designs” and allowing us all to understand that proportion is the main focus of all good design. So for us shorter women, there is no doubt that is why clothing has never looked right on our bodies, because the proportion was always wrong for us.

Norma Kamali is another trailblazer who has impacted me deeply. I had the honor of meeting her at FIT when I was a student, and her energy was electric. She has always been about authenticity and pushing boundaries. She once said, “If you have a garment that you can wear and feel good in as many times as you like, and you didn't spend more than your rent on it, I've done my job.” This resonates with me—I believe in creating pieces that are both beautiful and practical. Fashion has the power to heal and transform. When we feel good in what we wear, we carry ourselves differently, and that confidence can be life-changing. “We all have periods of feeling invincible but this can slip away very easily,” she said. “The secret is to see how we can extend this because when we are feeling invincible, we can do great things.”

A true statement that I want to live by and also that I want my brand to also represent. Like Norma Kamali, I am very aware of the “healing magic” that fashion can have on someone. How it can transform the way you see yourself and therefore how you present yourself to the world. My mission has always been to highlight the greatest parts of women, to feel invincible (or at least beautiful and relevant) so you can do great things! I truly believe that when we look good, we feel good!

Lastly, a role model who has inspired me in my adult life is Michelle Obama. As First Lady, she balanced work, family, and public life with grace and strength. Her book Becoming speaks to the challenges of juggling multiple roles, a struggle I relate to as both a mother and business owner. I often ask myself, “What would Michelle Obama do?” when I need to find the perfect balance between mother-energy and boss-energy. One of her quotes that stays with me is: “The future of our world is only as bright as the future of our girls.” Investing in women and girls isn’t just about fairness—it’s about unlocking the full potential of our society.

Reflecting on the women who’ve shaped my journey has been an important exercise in understanding who I am and who I strive to be. They remind me that we are all capable of making an impact and that our legacy is defined not just by what we achieve, but by how we uplift others along the way.

As we celebrate Women’s History Month, I hope this inspires you to reflect on the women who have shaped your journey. And above all, I want you to remember this: YOU ARE WORTHY. Your life, your joy, and your happiness matter. Embracing your worth isn’t selfish—it’s necessary. Let’s continue to lift each other up, dream big, and create a future where all women are seen, heard, and celebrated.

I remind myself as I write this, that my path may look different from those around me, but it is my unique path. There is nobody else who designs like me, or runs a business like me, or closes stores like me - LOL! (Read more about that here). But honestly, this blog has inspired me to remember who walked this path before me, who laid down the bricks to elevate the road, to be a little higher and a lot more smooth for me to walk.

I don't ever take this life for granted because of this, I never forget my thread in the fabric of life, and how all of us are connected in a responsibility to create a better world for ALL. I hope you can remind yourself of that lesson as well, you matter, you are worthy and your life creates ripples of light and joy to many. As always, thank you for being on this journey with me.