Blogs by Allison

I used to think I was good at practicing gratefulness. But through this season of growth, I’ve realized that living in gratefulness was actually a struggle for me. And I had a strange revelation recently . . . my daily practice of gratitude in the morning left me with this odd sense of “unease.” I actually left the practice feeling more anxious then relaxed. And in a session with my friend aka my “Spiritual therapist”- we uncovered that gratefulness felt like bragging to my inner self. WUUUUTTT?! So I sat with this and everything started connecting. I grew up as a 4th generation Japanese-American, the middle child to two hard working parents. My dad is an entrepreneur and my mom spent most of her life working in the family businesses (yes, plural - we joke that my dad was a serial entrepreneur) while taking care of us. They both worked very hard. And while we had moments of ease, most of what I remember about them running these businesses was that it was HARD. As an empathic kid, I picked up all the moments of scarcity, stress, and fear — and those became my reference points. I learned life was hard and running a business was even harder. And here’s the funny twist: even with those lessons, I still grew up wanting to start my own business. So that childhood mantra played on – “Life is hard. Running a business is hard. It takes a lot of hard work.” And without even realizing it, that belief system followed me straight into adulthood. So when all the self-help books said, “have a daily gratitude practice,” mine felt hard before I even got started. Your gratitude practice is supposed to make me feel good inside, right? But instead, it triggered the young child in me who believed life should be hard – and listing out the things I was grateful for was bragging . . . BOOM! I was hit with the weight of this realization, and so I sat with it, asking myself these questions:  How can I get myself to accept that life can be easy? That life can be in flow? And even more than that - that I deserved an easy life? I can’t tell you how this will all work out because I’m still in the thick of it. But even now, as I continue working through this gratefulness practice, I can say: it’s getting easier. And now, when I close my gratitude practice in the morning, I actually feel that sense of ease and gratefulness wash over me. As painful as the process can feel sometimes, it’s worth it to look at your life and “count your blessings.” Because in a world that loops our painful experiences 24 hours a day — on the news, on our social media feeds — I want all of the good stuff on loop. And through this gratefulness journey, I can understand how this shifts every part of my life, even within my business. Because now I can allow myself to live and lead from a place of ease, not difficulty. And more than that — I can believe that each and every one of us deserves this ease as well.  I want that ease for myself, and I want that ease for you. So as we move into the season of giving, I ask you try something . . . Pause — and give yourself the love, the gratefulness, the generosity you’ve always reserve for others. Turn all of that love, light, and energy and share it with yourself too. Because you are amazing, you are powerful, and you have given so much of yourself to others. It’s okay to rest. It’s okay to live in the moments of ease and gratefulness that are just for you.  That is what I want for myself — and that is what I want for you! Wishing you all the best this holiday season. I hope it’s full of love and light. -Allison 

The team and I have so much to be grateful for this year and one of them is you! Without your support, we wouldn't be here. We get to wake up every day and work on something we absolutely love and share it with you. Thank you for joining us for another Black Friday and holiday season. We still have lots to share with you as we close out this year, including some new styles we've been working on! So stay tuned, you don't wanna miss it!  - Allison 

Our society glorifies youth. Everywhere we look, we’re sold anti-aging, told to stay young, urged to fight time. But what happens to us when we’re no longer seen as valuable? That quiet question has been building inside of me — this feeling of worth, of being seen and heard. That question has always been at the heart of this brand. But now, as I approach the final year of my 40s, it means something deeper. When I first started this brand, I was in my early 30s — no kids, just a dream of creating clothing for shorter women like me. It began from a place of being unseen by the fashion industry because of my height. Then came children, and with them, a new sense of purpose. I kept designing, kept going. And eventually, I started to make a name for myself here in Hawai‘i. My late 30s were a blur of toddlers and deadlines. Then 40 came — quiet and unremarkable. I didn’t have the time or space to feel anything about it. I was too busy managing my business, focusing on my family and a world in chaos. There was no time to grieve (or even notice) the loss of elasticity in my skin, thinning hair or the widening of my waist. The pandemic hit, and survival mode took over. We closed stores, reopened, pivoted again. Somewhere in that chaos, something began to shift within me. It was a knowingness. A deeper sense of what I — and perhaps others — needed. It was never just about height anymore. Through our Mānoa showroom, I was lucky enough to meet so many of you face-to-face. You shared your stories — about retiring, reentering the workforce, your travels, losing loved ones, navigating menopause, and reclaiming joy. Those moments with you, grounded me. They reminded me that this brand was never just about pants — it was about the people. Every conversation stayed with me and gave me time to re-think, re-shape myself and this business’ focus. Are we doing enough? And then I remembered — in a previous chapter of my life, I went to healer school in Sedona. I thought maybe I’d become an energy healer instead of a fashion designer. That path didn’t lead where I expected… but maybe it was never meant to. Maybe it was meant to come with me — to merge with fashion, to make something new. Recently, I became Reiki certified, and the truth clicked into place: my love for design and healing were never separate. They’ve always been connected. It just took time to see it clearly. I am brought to tears right now as I type this, because it’s striking a cord deep within, something that was hidden from my sight and awareness for a while. I’ll admit — it scares me to say this out loud. Who am I to claim that my clothes can heal? Who am I to say I know what women need? But the inner journey has shaped me. Aging has shaped me. Raising kids, running a business, surviving heartbreak and failure — all of it brought me to this awareness. I’m not the same woman who started this brand. And that’s the point. Growth is messy. Aging is humbling. But instead of looking at our faces or our bodies and seeing what’s “wrong,” why not pause to see what’s right? Why not celebrate who we’ve become? The lines on our face, the softness in our bellies — they are proof that we’ve lived. That we’ve not just survived, but THRIVED. That we’ve loved, lost, and risen again. As women, our greatest power lies in the balance of our softness and our strength. And I want both to be celebrated. I know I can’t change society overnight. But I can start with this brand. And maybe together, we can shift the narrative within— even just a little. To value our wisdom over youth. To honor our growth over perfection. To show up — fully, vulnerably, unapologetically — and wear clothing that comforts and supports us. This brand (and I) are going through a transformation - to be a brand for you, to celebrate your challenges, and to not shy away from who we’ve become. It’s a support system for all the women navigating life’s different chapters. For the new moms (or those trying to become one), the grandmas, the women in menopause, the seekers, the brave warriors.  Let this be a safe space for softness, for self-love, for celebrating the beautiful journey of aging and becoming. Don’t apologize for the changing of your body or your views, the weight gain, the wrinkles, the grey hairs - it is our badge of honor - to show the world just how bravely and spectacularly we have lived!  

It feels like it's been a long time coming but we finally have a full collection to share with you, just in time for the changing of season. Wherever You Go is a collection that’s all about a new state of mind. . . And when the team and I started to talk about the inspiration behind this collection, we loved the idea of being with you (through the styles you’re wearing) “wherever you go.” It was very literal at first, how can we create a collection that would go with you on your journeys — trips, to work, weekend errands, and wherever else you wore our styles to.  But through this past month, I’ve been on a different and deeper journey. More learning, growth, and facing old patterns has pushed me into a new sense of being . . . And then I started to see this collection of “Wherever You Go” in a new light and with fresh eyes.  The meaning behind this collection is much deeper now. It’s also about the journey I want to be on with you — how our clothing can best support you while you’re on your own journey to connect more with your Mind, Heart, and Spirit. As you dream the big dream or imagine a better life for yourself and loved ones. Or experiencing love through different relationships in your life, holding and living with your children in their joy (and their pain), or dealing with the emotions of saying goodbye to those we love so much.  And if you’re doing the “inner work”, the spiritual journeying that I love so much — I hope our clothes can be there in the moments of “a-ha’s,” through journaling, prayer and meditation, and in the deep moments of finding more of yourself. Think of the clothing as a cheerleader, a support system, the comfort you need as you journey through this life.  Whether it’s times that you need to be brave, to show up authentic and true to yourself. Or when you’re experiencing a setback, and you need a little softness and self care. I hope to be there with you, at the beginning, middle, and end.   This is what I dream of, to give you more moments of feeling comfortable in every part of your life. I hope our clothing can be a sense of support, love and empowerment . . . We are with you, Wherever You Go . . . -Allison  Stay tuned, new collection launching 10/16/25. 

I’ve been here before—standing at the edge of what feels like the next step toward my business goals. What is this feeling in my body? Is it fear or excitement? Will I fail again? I can’t tell… and that worries me.  It feels like I’m swirling in a vortex: growing, failing, evolving, sliding backward, tripping and falling on my face. And when I look up and it seems like I’ve been in the same place the whole time. What feels different now is that I have been here before—and I’m older and hopefully wiser. No, cross that out—I am wiser. Full disclosure: we’ve been facing a few production issues lately, and I couldn’t fully understand why. If you don’t know my backstory, this business started in 2008 with a focus on petite premium denim. I had an opportunity to manufacture my denim with a family friend in China, and it backfired in a big way. After two years of back‑and‑forth design and development, I received the shipment (right before we were set to launch into Hawai‘i boutiques) and it was all wrong. They made my designs in lower‑quality (okay—cheap) denim. I opened the boxes in my storage unit and the smell of toxic fumes hit me. To say I cried would be an understatement—I sobbed. I somehow pulled myself together, made a trip to LA, took out another business loan, and met with a few factories to make the denim again, the way I intended (well, almost). Those factories in LA eventually disappointed me too—for different reasons: low quality, no integrity, and zero transparency. Every time, I would ask myself, Why can’t I find a good factory?  Finding the right factory is like finding the right partner in life—it takes kissing a lot of frogs before you find the prince. I’ll have to admit, I’ve kissed (worked with) over 20  different frogs over the last 16 years of business. And after all that, I finally feel like I’m at the precipice of something great. I think I may have finally found a couple of amazing partners to work and grow with, but my mind keeps taking me back to the fear of disappointment and failure of the past. Which has made me feel like, Have I been the issue this whole time? I mean, yes, some of these factories were… let’s say, not aligned. But there were a few that could have worked out. Maybe they weren’t the problem after all. Maybe it has been me all along?  That question pushed me off the cliff—into reading, growth, self-awareness, and spiritual practice. I dove into the deep end with no flotation device. What I found was humbling: whenever I neared the “next step” in my business, I was the one who stumbled. I kept a glass ceiling over my own head and, energetically, I’d conjure a problem. Gay Hendricks calls it the “Upper Limit Problem” in The Big Leap. This is my third time reading this book, but only recently did it click. The catalyst was a single week where I straddled two realities—financial abundance and debilitating debt—while feeling exactly the same inside: fear of failure and a shaky sense of worth. That contrast gave me the A-HA moment I needed, and shook me to my core. No matter what my bank account showed me, I felt the same fear and failure. So instead of ignoring it again, I made myself sit with that uncomfortable awareness, longer and longer. Almost as if I were saying, “look at what you’ve done.”  Then something shifted—another gift in the form of a book: The Mindful Self‑Compassion Workbook by Kristin Neff, PhD, and Christopher Germer, PhD. Instead of forcing myself to “learn the damn lesson,” I found the strength to honor my journey and give myself grace. I could literally see, feel, almost taste the change—in me, in the energy, in my awareness. And I wanted more. So I set aside 2-3 hours a day to reread, pray, and meditate as if my life depended on it. I was committed to moving past the limits I had created.  So here I am. I don’t know what the future holds for me or for this business, but I do know I’m more present, more self‑aware, and more compassionate (with myself). Every day I practice leading with faith over fear and compassion over grit. Where will this shift take me? Who knows. But I already feel lighter, with a new excitement for my future, this brand, and my life. -Allison

Designing clothes isn’t a straight line. It’s more like a winding path—with unexpected turns, small wins, frustrating setbacks, and sometimes… a complete U-turn back to where it all began. That's the story of the Becca Top. It started with a men’s undershirt The original idea behind Becca was personal. I always loved the look of a men’s V-neck undershirt—simple, effortless, easy to style. But as is often the case in fashion, something designed for men didn’t quite translate for women. It was always too tight in the wrong places, too long in the body, and totally lacking in shape. So I designed the Becca to be a solution: a knit top that looked like the classic staple I loved, but actually fit a woman’s body—our bodies. I added bust darts (my factories were confused by this detail). And gave it a subtle, curved hem. And I decided to go all in on a design detail few would notice but every wearer would feel: a hem facing. This is a more couture-style finish that helps the top lay beautifully, even after many washes and wears. It also made the style much more difficult and expensive to produce. But I was determined to do it the right way. Because it wasn’t just about how the Becca looked. It was about how it felt—on your skin and for our self-esteem. Then came the hard part Over the years, the Becca became one of our best-selling styles. But behind the scenes, it was always a bit of a puzzle. The pattern was tricky. The sewing was time-consuming. Factories in both Hawai‘i and California tried their hand at producing it—but it always took extra attention, extra time, and extra care. And for that reason, a lot of factories and seamstresses have a hard time making this style and the costs and mistakes started to add up.  Eventually, little inconsistencies started creeping in. A slightly too tight sleeve here. A shorter hemline there. A top that once felt just right began to feel a bit… off. At first, it was a half-inch discrepancy. Then an inch. Small changes that slowly pulled the Becca away from her original intent. And when this started to happen on repeat, I knew we had two choices: let it continue, or stop everything and fix it. We chose the second. Back to the beginning It’s taken us almost six months to get here. But we went back to the drawing board, pulled out the original vision for Becca, and got to work. We revised the pattern, tested the fit, questioned every detail, and made sure it aligned with my first intention. With love, time, and help from our dedicated customers and team (including Ashley, our resident Becca fan club president), we’re proud to bring you the refreshed, restored, original-fit Becca Top. Restored back to it's original glory! A limited re-launch, in two beloved colors During the redesign, we also stumbled on a few extra bolts of fabric in Matcha and Ocean—two current color favorites. So we cut a small run of Becca's in both, just for this moment. If you’re a longtime Becca fan, we hope you feel the difference. And if you’re new to her, we’re so excited to reintroduce her with intention and integrity. Why this story matters We’re sharing all of this not just to talk about a top, but to remind you of something we hold close: we are a work in progress. We make mistakes. We revise. We question. We reimagine. And we're committed to doing it better each time—f for you, for our community, and for ourselves. Thank you for being here—for trusting us, for growing with us, and for sticking by our side as we evolve. We hope the Becca Top reminds you that perfection isn’t the point. Progress is. Grateful to my team for working so hard on this project and to you, for your continued love and support . . . THANK YOU!Allison 

It’s been a minute since I last shared an update with you. These past few months have been a journey—one of surrender, learning, and going with the flow. Our lease at Manoa Marketplace ended in May, and while I thought I had a plan for our next steps, the Universe clearly had something different in store. To be honest, the transition was messy and uncomfortable. I didn’t have a clear destination for our next home base, and that made me feel like I was failing as a leader. I couldn’t give my team the clarity I wanted to, and for a while, it felt like we were just floating day to day. Then came the signs—starting with a trip to LA in March that ended with me pulling my back (well, technically, my hip gave out and got so tight I couldn’t even stand or walk properly). That forced me to pause. To rest. To surrender. By April, after physical therapy and a lot of meditation, I started envisioning a new plan: moving the team into a residential home as our new office. Much like I needed bed rest to recover, I realized our team needed space and stillness to heal and realign. As an Aries rising (and a classic Sagittarius), I’m naturally go-go-go—all fire, all forward motion. But this season has asked me to do the opposite: to slow down, listen, and trust. Honestly, moving into a house felt like a step backward at first. But I took a deep breath and whispered, "Okay, Universe. Let’s find a home." What followed were rejection after rejection as we looked for houses. Each “no” brought up memories from when I first started this business—those early days of bold vision and constant rejection. Over time, all that pushback made me more cautious, more hesitant. But all of this and the past couple of months ended up being a gift. It gave me space to revisit my original vision and redefine what this new chapter could look like—for myself, for the team, and for this business. And then, things started to shift. After about a dozen "no's", I stumbled upon the perfect space—an adorable 100-year-old home that checked all our boxes. Exactly what I asked for and in a few days, we signed a short lease and we have finally moved out of our Manoa Showroom space.  But before we fully settle in, we’re making one last "pit stop"—a pop-up shop for our Oʻahu community. If you're on island, come see us! Help us lighten our load and get a sneak peek of our newest styles and colors. Keep scrolling for the details of where and when. And, if you're not here on O'ahu or can't make it that weekend - thank you so so much, for all of your support, your kindness and generosity with me and this business. At 48 years old, I've been humbled by the lessons of the Universe/God and am working to stay in peaceful surrender . . . To listen more than I talk, to flow more than force, and to stay in gratefulness every minute of everyday. Sending you lots of love & lots of light . . .Allison 

Meet Allison—the owner and designer of Allison Izu.  Born and raised in Hawaii, she always thinks about what kind of impact her designs have and how that reflects the culture of Hawaii. To live in flow with nature, be comfortable, and enjoy life are the beliefs that she applies to her designs here at Allison Izu. Making sure that you feel comfortable, confident, and in flow during your day. Made so you can live a balanced, whole, and harmonious life. 

Earth Day is such a good reminder for all of us to pause and reflect—on how we live, what we consume, and the impact we leave behind. I wouldn’t say I’m a hardcore environmentalist, but I am someone who wants to leave this world better than I found it. So, every year, this day gives me a little nudge to be more intentional. At home, my kids and I talk a lot about how our everyday choices add up. We recycle, we buy food that’s grown closer to home (less travel = less impact), and we support local whenever we can. Even when it's something small, like spending the extra $25 for reef-safe sunscreen—it all adds up. Since my personal values are intertwined with the brand, a lot of this carries over into how I run the business. Supporting local has always been important to me. For years we produced everything right here in Hawaii, and even though we've moved production to California, it was a conscious choice to keep things close and Made in the USA. Did I know tariffs on imported goods were going to become a big deal? Nope, not all. But I did know that investing in our local economy—whether it’s in Hawaii or California—feels like the right thing to do. If we can create jobs and keep quality high, we’ll do it for as long as we can. We’ve also been working behind the scenes to source more sustainable fabrics. We’ve started collaborating with a few California-based mills to develop materials that match the drape and feel we love—but in a way that’s better for the planet. These new fibers—like Siro and Micro Modal—are made from more natural sources and break down more gently in the environment. They’ll also make your clothes feel even softer and last longer. These updates are coming, and I can’t wait for you to experience them! On a recent trip to LA, I also connected with some incredible new factories and suppliers who share our values—people doing things the right way with eco-friendly dye techniques, lower water usage, and a real dedication to quality. There’s so much to look forward to! These changes take time (fashion moves a little slower when you’re doing things consciously), but our goal is to transition our entire line by the end of 2025. Until then, we’re taking small steps, one change at a time. We’re also exploring a California-based warehouse to ship orders from, which would help cut down on the back-and-forth shipping we currently do between Hawaii and the mainland. It’s a big shift in how we operate—but not in why we do what we do. The heart of our brand is still rooted right here in Hawaii, with our values, our people, and our community. But this next phase could open up incredible opportunities, and I’m so excited for what’s ahead. So don’t worry—there won’t be any major price hikes from us because of tariffs. We’re still proudly 100% Made in the USA, using high-quality fabrics that we feel good about. But yes, change is coming. If you’ve been with us for a while, you know we’ve grown a lot over the years—through style shifts, new launches, openings & closings of our stores. And through it all, your support has meant everything. But shifting with the times is how we grow, and it's how I hope to bring these clothes—and this mission—to more women across the country, and maybe one day, around the world. From the bottom of my heart, thank you. Thank you for being on this journey with me, for supporting me, and for believing in what we’re building. I’m so deeply grateful. And I hope the choices we make here at Allison Izu continue to leave a mark—not just on the planet, but on you too. with love + light, Allison