Blogs by Allison

I like to joke that "change" is my middle name. I've become so accustomed to change, that it can sometimes feel like I don't put roots down as deep as I'd like to. But in reality, I think I'm in a floaty on the ocean, moving with the tides and waves. I don't seek out change, but I have accepted that it is part of my growth, necessary for my evolution... These last couple of years has taught all of us how to shift, change and evolve into a new version of ourselves. Aside from the pandemic, I felt like I was inundated with barriers, closures and "problems" that forced me to zig and then zag. And when I finally felt like we made it through one thing, another issue was knocking at my door. Through it all, I had to remind myself to be like a buoy. Instead of stumbling through these "problems," pushing and forcing my way through, I could be pulled by something greater. I just had to remind myself to float once again. So here I am, floating towards the next chapter of my life, the next evolution of my business and myself. It's hard to let go of what you know, the comfort and safety of it all. It's scary to step out in the unknown, everything seems so unclear. So, I reminded myself that I have been here before, when I moved into Manoa, when I moved into Ward Warehouse, when I loved into Kaimuki and when I moved into Ala Moana. When I do that, it loses some of it's fear, because what seems like the unknown, is just a step towards something familiar. . . change. Oh yes - thats familiar - its my middle name LOL. I'm accustomed to change. I can lean into it, feel stronger and safer. I'm supported by my family, by this spectacular team of creatives, and by YOU. I'm grateful for you, for your continued support and love, for how you continually show up for me, this brand and my team. I could not do it without you and I hope you realize you are an integral part of this business. And as we move into this next chapter, I know that when I look over my shoulder, you will be there cheering me on. In those moments, that's when I realize, that I did put down roots - - my roots were to you, to my all of friends and customers, to my team, to my family, to my greater purpose . . . . I look forward to sharing more about this journey with you!

I was destined to be short . . . thats what I tell myself. My sister is 5'6" and I am barely 5'2". My whole life I wore 4" heels, was ashamed when I was standing next to a taller girl, and still (oddly) hunched over to prevent from being noticed. You would think a short girl would stand up straight. I tried everything to make myself appear taller (and thinner) my whole life. And now, in my 40's - I'm trying to rewrite my mind chatter and find all the reasons why I LOVE being short. That's what our #LiveYourLetter campaign is all about - to love your shape, your height, so much that you OWN IT and LIVE IT unapologetically! I think about the time and energy I could have saved if I didn't obsess over my body shape, my height, or my aging body. It would be years added to my life! This is what I want my brand to stand for... Creating clothing that is beautiful, fashionable, and comfortable. I want my clothing to be EMPOWERING. I want whoever wears an Allison Izu piece to feel confident in yourself, in your body - to not only accept it, but to love it! I want everyone to experience that feeling when you put on the right top or pant and it makes you stand a little straighter, taller and you notice yourself in the mirror and can't help but say DAMN - I look good! LOL! I don't want someone to feel ashamed to make an empowering statement about themselves. I'm working to leave all of the insecurity, all of the self doubt behind me. I've wasted too many of my years obsessing over it all. I'm stepping into my 40's with unabashed freedom, to say - "this is me world, my curvy hips, my soft mom belly, and my short daikon legs" (that'a turnip for those of you who don't know, its not usually a compliment to have "daikon" legs). I hope that in some small way, this will encourage you to look at yourself in the mirror today and find those parts of you that you love (or at least like) and start telling yourself, how amazing they are. I started with something small, like my eyes (no pun intended). Every morning, I would look in the mirror and say, 'Hey Al, you have some really nice eyes." And I did it until I started to actually believe it, until I stopped rolling my eyes afterwards at myself LOL. Then I moved onto the next part. My only advice - keep it positive and say it often. Because, my dear, you have wasted too many minutes cutting yourself down, why not use those minutes to lift yourself up!

September is the month we celebrate "Alliversary" aka the anniversary of the brand. I think of it more of a birthday because I think of this business as a child of mine. When I look back at the 13+ years of my journey, I see the ebb and flow of "good" and "bad" experiences. And as I reflect, I can now see that the "bad" experiences that gave me the biggest gifts. When I attended Fashion Institute of Technology in New York City, I had my "a-ha" moment . . . The industry standard of clothing design was for 5'8" fit models.  We were all trained using the same patterns and the same model forms to create our designs.  When I would take my projects home to sew, I would fit them on my short 5'2" frame - and everything would look wrong! That's when I realized that no one in the fashion industry was designing clothing for shorter women like me. So I decided it was my mission to start a brand for short/petite women. Soon after I graduated in the early 2000's, I began designing a Premium Denim collection. I made my own fit patterns to match my own shorter proportions. I used men's jean sizing (they shop by waist x inseam) as inspiration. I decided to make 3 different inseams -  27", 29" and 31". I worked for over 2 years perfecting my patterns, sourcing fabric and finding a reputable small manufacturer who would be willing to work with me. Just when it seemed like things were going smoothly, a few set backs appeared.  I experience manufacturing errors, first overseas, then in California. Over the course of 3 years, I would work with 5 different manufacturers losing time and money.   At the time, I was devastated. I felt like giving up and was very discouraged by all the debt I was in.  But I continued and slowly but surely found small successes. I got my name out there - a feature in Oprah Magazine, being carried by Nordstrom and Von Maur, and so many more "wins."  And while I had found a good flow of things, I also couldn't take the brand to the next level. I felt stuck and stagnant. I was burnt out and not able to juggle my home life with my 2 small babies. It took me years to understand what finding balance meant. To realized that most of my "bad" came about because I wasn't living my truth. I was trying to live up to someone else's standards or expectations. I lived most of my life comparing myself to others, and never finding the moments to celebrate me. So on this Alliversary, I ask that we all take more time out of our days, out of our lives - to celebrate ourselves. To find those small moments to look yourself in the eyes, and say - "You are a BADASS and I love YOU!" Through it all, I look back with a heart full of gratitude for all of my experiences. And I am mostly grateful for YOU. All of my friends and customers who have supported me, whether it was from day 1, to right now. I could not and would not have made it this far without you! So for year 13, I wanted to take the time to send a big "THANK YOU" for all of your love and all of your support. I hope you will live into your authentic purpose too! With love + light,  Al 

Empowerment is such a big word, those 11 letters can appear daunting when you stare at them. Empowerment is the process of becoming stronger and more confident, especially in controlling one’s life and claiming one’s rights.  As you can tell, empowerment has been on my mind lately because of my own internal rumblings with vulnerability. I work really closely with my team and recently I noticed they were not feeling empowered in what they were doing. I had to take a long, hard look at my own inner demons to figure out what I was doing to  contribute to this lack of power amongst my team. Am I not owning my own power? Maybe I’m not giving my team firm ground to stand on? Are my own insecurities holding me back somehow? As a designer, I went to school to learn how to design clothing. Through the work of being a designer I learned how to operate a business. Unfortunately, being a leader was never on the syllabus. I came to realize that empowerment was also missing from my life and that I needed to shore up my confidence before I could ask for my team to feel empowered.    I focused on one seemingly small change, simply the way I interact with my team. I used to be very passive when assigning tasks, thinking I was being considerate. “When you get a sec?” “Would you do me a favor?” “When you have time?” But this left my team feeling confused, like I was unsure. So I changed the way I was “asking” them to do work.  Now, I use  apps like Asana and Slack to set up “the ask” and my team organized and connected.  And this system allows them to put a clear “ask” out there for me, too, so the road goes both ways. With a clear ask there comes a clear outcome and even clearer milestones along the way, which allows for communication and growth to happen together. So now, empowerment happens organically for myself and in essence, my team. It hasn’t been an easy road and there is no magic wand of empowerment, but if we take the step to recognize where we are not owning our power, we can start to see where we can make the shifts, so we can start to own it. And then we take those small micro movements towards it.  For me, I own my power when I feel good, and I feel good when I essentially “look good” - that means keeping myself active and healthy but also it means looking good. Accepting that we can be beautiful and powerful at the same time . . . putting on a beautiful colored lipstick and then wearing your favorite “power suit” - so you can conquer your day with empowerment and to empower others. Our newest collection called IZU-sentials was created to give women the basic building blocks to create your own “power suit”. For me, its always about a great fitting pant like the Cooke or Coral and a cute comfy top.  Need a little more “structure” throw on one of our collared Sarah tops, or try our beloved Jane top (that we brought back by customer demand!) Let’s share and support each other through this journey of empowerment. Please check out our IZU Facebook Community, where I’ll be leading discussions and making connections to make us all better people. I would love to hear from you. Join the community and tell us your story. 

Be Grateful and Ambitious. This simple sentiment from Abby Wambach has been living in my mind ever since I read it the very first time. As we step into another month dedicated to the history of women, I can’t help but think about the lessons that I want Olive (and Owen) to understand about the journey women have walked throughout history.  Everytime I read these words from Abby’s book, Wolfpack, I can’t help but linger on the idea and ponder the meanings of and connections between ambition and gratitude in my life and for women around the world. In the book, Abbey is referring to the fact that, as women, we are taught to be GRATEFUL. Society has taught us to be grateful for the opportunities “given” to us (perhaps by a man) and not to speak up or rock the boat. But this idea of being both GRATEFUL AND AMBITIOUS is so new to me that I am literally shocked. Right now you’re probably wondering, why is this shocking to Allison? My shock is there because initially it feels selfish and boastful to be ambitious when we should just be grateful Who am I to ask for more when the women who came before me had so little in the way of opportunities. I am so lucky that as a woman in today’s society I am able to own my own business and live my dream.  But then I think about this way of thinking for a moment and realize, WHY NOT? Who am I to shrink away from these opportunities? If these historical women were here with us right now, what would they say? They would tell us that they didn't break down walls and glass ceilings so we can play small. They would say to fight, to speak out, and to STAND IN OUR LIGHT! That is the meaning of “Be Grateful and Ambitious.” Yes, we must look to our past and pay our respect to the greats of history who blazed this path for us, but we must also be ambitious, pick up the torch and lead our own way. While we walk on the path that has been laid for us, we must also be the ones that continue to pave new paths for our daughter, so that one day the paths are further, wider and many. We do this not just for ourselves, but for all women, all girls. And it is our duty to continue the ambitions of our “fore-mothers.” So I am teaching myself to be ambitious, to ask for a place at the table and to use that place to create more seats for more women. And as a mother, I will work to teach my Olive that she has a right to EVERY opportunity her brother has, that she has a right to use her voice and her power to get it for herself.  But, like everything else, this has to start with me.  I need to stop playing small, so I can appear grateful. I need to deeply understand that I worked hard to be where I am. And while this is due in part to so many struggles that came before me, I have also endured a lot to be where I am today. It was both my gratefulness and my ambition that supported me and I will continue to stand in the light, for myself, for my Olive and for all women and girls!

Blogging hasn't always been a primary focus for me. It’s not that I don't have anything to say—it's more that I’m not sure people are listening. But in the spirit of my new word for 2021, which is WORTHINESS, I think I need to take a leap of faith and put myself out there a little more.  So . . . here it goes!   When I first started designing, Allison Izu was a brand for petite women, short girls like me (I’m barely 5’2”), who felt unseen and unheard by the fashion industry. My “a-ha” moment came in fashion design school at FIT, where  I was making clothing for my statuesque model, a fit and lanky girl of 5’8”. I would take the samples home so that I could try the clothing on my body type. The styles looked horrible on my body because everything was hitting me in the wrong places. And that’s when it came to me. I should design clothing for my shorter frame. (a photo of me and my fit model, who was 5'8" and I am barely 5'2")   So I created my own shorter-fit patterns and I started a brand. OK, it wasn't that easy, but in an effort to speed things up, let’s just say it was that easy. I began the Allison Izu brand making “premium petite denim” and I eventually evolved the brand into a complete collection of styles focusing on a shorter body frame. And while we still use the same fit patterns today, our brand has evolved to include and encompass more than just short girls. (a photo from one of my first Premium Petite Denim Collection launches) As my life changed, so did my brand, and what evolved from it was more of a movement about changing the way women felt in their bodies. Sometimes I feel like we are our worst enemies, picking up on our flaws instead of celebrating our beauty, and allowing the negative words to dance through our minds instead of shouting positive and supportive affirmations.  So I started evolving the Allison Izu brand to be a safe place where women can feel seen and heard, and be celebrated, where each style feels like a positive and supportive affirmation of a woman’s beauty and truth. But I realized that all of this has to start with me. I need to turn my focus inward and work through my own negative self talk. I need to start to love and embrace my own “flaws” and change my perception to see these parts of myself as parts to be celebrated and valued. Will you take this journey with me? I think the first step is realization, to catch ourselves when we start to form a negative thought in our head, when we feel the urge to sigh with some disgust as we look at our “flaws” in the mirror. Let’s work through this together so we can feel worthy, to stand in the light and surround ourselves with love! If you’re ready to strike out on this journey with me, I have two ways we can start to rethink how we think about our bodies. The first is a book suggestion from a dear friend of mine, Nola, who gifted our “girls group” a book by Louise Hay called Mirror Work. It’s a beautiful book that I am slowly making my way through, to begin to heal my thought patterns and work to start loving myself more. The other thing you can do is start to think about fashion and fit differently, as a means to accentuate your beautiful body and uncover the best in yourself. Check out our #LiveYourLetter campaign and our Izu Body Types. It's a system I’ve created to empower women with the tools to understand their shape, how to style themselves and feel great! I truly believe that Fashion can be Transformative with the Right Fit!    

Happy New Lunar New Year everyone its the year of the metal ox! With the help of Jen Gonsalves (visit her website to learn more about her and her services), let's bring in the new year with three simple tips to bring positive "Chi" into your home. Tip #1: The Bagua Map Ok - this one might not technically be easy, but its FREE . . . Get rid of clutter. I know, nobody likes to clean, but reducing clutter will help to create an open space for the positive vibes or "Chi" to move through your home. For me, I used the Bagua Map and chose which area to focus on first . . . my abundance corner (which is my messiest room, the Laundry Room) but I got to work quickly and made it happen. The hard part now, is upkeep! LOL Tip #2: Plants, Plants, Plants! Adding some life to your space. I am a self-proclaimed Black thumb (and my husband is a landscaper - LOL) But Jen suggested I add some water plants to my house. I can happily say - I added them about a month ago and nothing has died (still crossing my fingers). Here is a link to find some water worthy plants for your home.   Tip #3: Crystals, Wind Chimes and Sound Bowls Crystals, Wind Chimes or sound bowls - This will take more of an investment on your part - but its something that will lift your energy and your space's energy . . . I LOVE CRYSTALS, and already had a few in my home - but in doing more research with the Bagua map, I was able to find where the crystals should be in the home. Jen suggested I add some affordable wind chimes to the store - and I found some at Ross and also Target. It doesn't have to be expensive, but sound is a great way to add some positive vibes to your space! We got our Tibetan singing bowls at Ocean Queen - they have 2 stores in Ala Moana, you can also find them online here: https://oceanqueentibetshop.com/ - their owner is a wealth of knowledge! Add Our New Soy Candle Scent To enhance your positive energy and to make your home smelling bright, come down to our store and get your hands on a new soy candle scent called Sage + Citrus made exclusively for us by Jules + Gem.  Watch our IG Live Session with Jen Gonsalves https://youtu.be/jrlNq8UkiL0  

For me, September always marks the beginning of all that is good in the fashion world. The September Issue, Fall collections . . . and when I decided to celebrate the Allison Izu brand anniversary. Because after you’ve been working at a business for over 20 years, you kinda forget the date that it all started.