Design Inspiration

Before I started planning for this collection, I knew I wanted it to have a purpose. This would represent the closing of the Manoa Showroom as well as the beginning of a new chapter for the brand. I dug deep to try to visualize what this new version of Allison Izu would look like— it’s about going back to the beginning. Whenever I embark on a new path, or I’m looking for courage to move forward, I find myself reviewing where I've been previously. I need a palette cleanser of sorts to truly visualize what’s next. So I decided that although this is our “spring collection,” I’d also be taking a step back into my personal comfort zone of designing in black and grey, my favorite colors! These colors allowed me the opportunity to create new designs, to tell a story, and share them with you in colors that go with everything!  But because this chapter is also about trying new things and getting out of my comfort zone, I wanted to introduce a pop of color. If you’ve been keeping up with our emails or following us on social media, you know that color is Orchid. A bright, beautiful pink/purple shade that adds vibrancy to  any outfit. It’s something fresh and clean that adds  joy to this season. We create all of our patterns “in house.” What does that mean? We start from the very beginning, from the first sketch to the final fit. So at the beginning of every collection, we start in the design phase. We'll review what styles will stay on and then from there we figure out how many new styles I can create. As a business, we try our best to keep our tried and true customer favorites while also making space for me to explore my new, creative ideas. It's a balance. For this collection, we challenged ourselves to come up with the concept of the IZU METHOD. It's the beginning stages of creating a system to dress and layer that adds interest and uniqueness to each outfit. So you’ll see a handful of new top styles in this collection. We also couldn’t forget your favorites like Becca and Emi, so they made it to this collection too!  And we can’t forget about the foundation of every great outfit — bottoms! You’ll see familiar favorites like the Miki, Milo, and Sunrise Joggers. And our South St Joggers will be making a return! For those who love a laid-back, edgy style, South St offers that perfect balance of comfort and shape. The balloon leg paired with the elastic hem adds a modern touch, especially when styled with a shorter top or a casual half-tuck. It’s one of those pants you can throw on and still feel put-together. I always say, once you have a pant you love, everything else comes together easily. So whether you're refreshing your wardrobe or adding something new, I hope these pieces help you step into this next season with confidence. So stay tuned! Our new Spring Collection is dropping soon.  -Allison 

This journey to start my brand happened over 25 years ago. When the inspiration came to me to start a premium petite brand. I feel like I was led there by something bigger than me. The journey to get my denim brand off the ground took over 6 years. With lots of lessons, struggles, and tears. From New York to China to Los Angeles and back to Hawaii - the journey was long and wide. But it’s where I learned how to make jeans and more importantly where I learned about my tenacity, resilience and creativity. Those things continue to service me till this day.  When I look back, I know the lessons kept coming because I needed to grow and evolve to be here, right now in front of you, relaunching denim in a new way.  Why I StartedAt the start of my journey, premium denim was at its peak. “Denim bars” lined the streets of New York and Los Angeles. But every shop I visited lacked petite sizing options. Most shops would tell me things like “we don't have too many shorter girls shop here” or “you can just get them hemmed.” It was as if I was the only one that was looking for shorter denim. That my “problem” did not exist and I was alone struggling. But the more research I did, I found that the average American woman is 5’3! I took it as my sign that the “problem” did exist and I could solve it. The JourneyLaunching denim back in 2008 was long and hard. Numerous issues with an overseas factory and several different LA factories showed me that being the solution to designing and creating petite denim wasn’t going to be easy. The lessons were painful ones but they taught me fortitude. To stand up for myself even though I was new to the game, even though I was a young woman battling against older, louder, opinionated men. To listen to my voice, forge my own path, and stand up for what I believe in.  I think I learned these lessons all those years ago so that I could have the strength now to continue to forge my own path and lead with my truth. The Universe has taught me numerous times that when I fail to listen to my intuition, to be guided, I usually end up in pain. And when I allow the needs and voice of others to be louder than my own inner voice, it will usually end in struggle.  The RelaunchAs the team and I began to plan out this relaunch, we were given many “learning opportunities.” I realized there’s still so much for me to learn and the industry as well as myself has changed so much. From sourcing and manufacturing, to production - there’s so much knowledge for us to learn and share with you. When I started, I only focused on 5 styles and manufactured with one factory. Now, 16 years later - we design, develop, source and manufacture over 30 - 50 different styles a season, and added 4 new and different styles of denim for this launch. Re-entering the “Denim World” has taught me new skills and new ways to listen to my intuition on a deeper level. That’s been the biggest lesson - to be confident in what I know, to be patient in working with others, and finding a balance between following my intuition, listening to others input, and making the best decision for the business and YOU. I also have an amazing team supporting me this go around and we’ve all learned so many life lessons as well as how to make denim that’s comfortable and fits our body. So grateful that these opportunities give us the chance to grow in so many ways.  So what’s new with this collection of denim? It’s evolved!We took inspiration from my first collection and improved each style to be better and more. We sourced high quality fabrics from Italy and Turkey. We developed each style - tried it on different body types, made multiple samples, fit them, decided on measurements for sizing to ensure a good fit for you. And we worked with a Los Angeles factory that could finish the denim in the ways we wanted.  The StylesThe first two styles were re-designed from one of my original styles. If you're familiar with the originals we had a Hotel + Smith Jean. We split what we loved about this original jean into two new styles and updated them to match our current needs. The Hotel Jean is our slim, straight jean. Think skinny jeans with a straight silhouette from the knee down. It gives you a slim look while still balancing out your hips and thighs. We added the usual 4 pockets and a shaped back yoke to fit petite proportions. It has a higher rise and a half elastic waistband to offer comfort and durability, a shorter inseam so you don’t have to worry about heming.  The Smith Jean is our straight jean. A version of a Boyfriend jean, with a slimmer hip fit and a more generous leg. Meant to be worn slightly dropped on the waist and crotch for that looser look.  The more fitted hip area gives it a more feminine feel and flatters your shape while the looser legs give you comfort and a youthful look. The next style is a new one we’ve been working on for a while now. The Canal Pant is our side zip, skinny pants with princess seams and hem cuff detail. The back yoke and back pockets will give the pants a jean feel with simpler lines and classic details. It also has our shortest inseam at 25”. And lastly but not least, this design is edgier and something I’ve been wanting in my closet. The Bowery Pant is our take on a balloon/barrel shaped pant. I wanted to create my own version of this with petite proportions. We took inspiration from our joggers and added a few fun details.  This pant has pleats in the front, to give you a trouser feel, with a higher rise. The legs flare out at the knee and shape back at the ankle. It’s been a long time coming and I’m so glad and grateful that we can finally share this with you. From sourcing fabrics, finding a good manufacturer, and finalizing the styles, YOU were the inspiration behind it all. Finding the balance between a classic jean fit with petite details and sizing in mind. Understanding what measurements we needed to adjust for the midsection, hips, thighs, inseam - all of it was to balance design, details, quality and manufacturing. It all finally came together with a healthy dose of learning along the way. This collection of denim is a compilation of learning and growth for me and this brand - to come full circle, back to my origins, a new, (hopefully) evolved entrepreneur. And to share all of it with you! -Allison

I was thinking the other day - what the purpose of the summer collection is/was. And it dawned on me that it’s an opportunity to convince myself that we can do the simplest things well. Just like cooking, I feel like it's always hardest to do the simplest things well, and that’s what I want this brand to be about. I want to be able to offer shorts that fit and flatter our bodies, no matter what age or size. I want you (and me) to feel comfortable and confident! And design styles that do just that.  That’s where Connection and Acceptance happen. When we can shed light on our own challenges, speak about them to each other and find common ground with another human who’s also experiencing something similar.  Through my own awareness of the aging body, researching more, and talking with you on the Showroom floor - I’m able to fully immerse myself in the “problem.” Which inspires me to find the solution that can hopefully support our journey of acceptance. Fashion is more than just “what’s in or out” - it’s about YOU and putting your needs at the core. When customers come into the Showroom to shop, they always ask me my opinion (which I’m always happy to share) but I always ask them, “How does it make YOU feel?” That’s the most important question and should be the question that drives all of your decisions. So the next time you worry about, “can I wear this outfit?” or “what will people think of me if I wear this?” Check in and ask yourself, “How does it make me feel?”  Every step of this journey for me and this brand is about asking myself, how it makes me feel and how it makes you feel, our customer. We work every day to make sure we hold our choices and designs to the highest standard so that you can feel more comfortable and confident in being the most authentic version of yourself! I hope we’re doing a good job in that! -Allison

We design collections way in advance. Colors are chosen, prints are made, and designs are created way before we’re in the season it comes out. And through this process I usually have a story that aligns everything together. But this Spring Collection was different. The colors and prints were decided on but the story didn’t come right away. And as we started to plan the launch and special event, I still felt like there wasn’t a connecting thread. Then a few weeks ago - it popped into my head. Just like spring represents a new awakening, re-birth; this collection is my re-birth as a designer, a new chapter in my story.I’ve been stuck in a “funk” the last couple of years, through Covid and trying to navigate the changing landscape of retail. Watching other businesses struggle to stay open, I allowed that to become the narrative for me - fear, lack of, and lots of self-doubt.  I realized it didn’t have to be this way. I could be creative, I could focus on growth and new life . . . and approach this new season with a new outlook. I’m pushing myself to share more about myself, my inner challenges, and the conversations I have with myself. If you follow the brand on Instagram or Facebook - you started to see bits and pieces of this. Through this process, it’s allowed me to see the value in connection and my point of view. And now this new collection made sense. It all CLICKED. It’s my opportunity to share my creativity and my point of view. And finding the balance between you (the customer) and me (the designer). The new prints represent that - one for you (Blush Blooms) and one for me (Antique White Slab). There are also 4 new styles (from me) and favorites from the past (for you). Re-birth and balance.   -Allison

As a young girl, the story of Momotaro (a Japanese folktale) was told to me. It seemed like a strange story...But as an adult I see the messages of bravery and working together. So when this collection started to come together, I drew inspiration from the themes in these books. The story I want my life to tell in 2024 is to be brave, resilient, and live with a sense of surrender and awe of what life puts at my feet. We landed on the name Momo as an homage to the lessons from our childhood stories. 

In design school, we’re taught to find a source of inspiration and design from there. Usually it's a place, a work of art, or something that you can pull inspiration from - colors, feelings, etc. And from there you create a collection. I design by allowing myself to absorb everything that the previous collections have been about, what customers have said about it, feedback, and then ask myself - “what will we crave now?” My inspiration is always - YOU.  Creating a brand that’ll support you (and me) in different ways, through different situations, so that we can get back to the most authentic version of ourselves. Sometimes that means pushing you to try a new color or maybe it's about introducing a new style that’s different from our norm. As I worked through this collection, it pushed me to go back to the “source” and create from a place of connection and foundation. When I chose these colors, it felt reminiscent of something. I realized they were similar to my first collections that I launched at Nordstrom many years ago. Muted tones that felt like home, coming back to meet me where I am now . . . Wash Black - I love all shades of black and gray. Antique White - what’s black without its counterpart? Vintage Denim - a grayish blue has always been a favorite fashion color of mine. This collection was connecting me back to my house of Identity. In astrology this is what we call the First House, where our birth sign is, where this sign “came to meet you.” This is how you articulate who you are, the “you” when you wake up in the morning.  At my designer core, I love basics - black, white, gray. My next base is muted tones or colors that essentially tip toward the grayscale of the color wheel. This is who I am when I wake up in the morning, this is where I began. And this is where we'll come back to... This is my 15th year in business. We’ll celebrate the brand anniversary (what we lovingly call Alliversary) in September. So it’s only fitting that we start to set the foundation now - go back to our First House. It gives me a place to connect back to, a reminder of where I’ve been, how far I’ve come, and how far you’ve come too. It’s an opportunity to celebrate and be grateful for all of the opportunities I’ve been gifted.  I’m so grateful to have you as my inspiration. Thank you for your support and for your willingness to be on this journey with me. Of self discovery, of acceptance, of celebration. Our vibrancy and best years that are yet to come.  So with that, I say THANK YOU! I hope you love the First House Collection as much as I do.- Allison

As a designer, I crave the chance to try new things, flex my design muscles a bit, and test new styles. So what better time to bring some to fruition than during the season of new beginnings. I love when moments align and this next collection, aka Spring Part Deux, is a sampling of all the new things I have planned for myself and the brand this year.  I’m excited to share 2 new styles that’ll definitely become staples in my closet. Warmer Spring weather means I’ll be in need of a good sleeveless and tank top! Enter MAX and TORI. The Max Tank is going to be my new summer staple.  It’s an edgy sleeveless top - a little rebellious and a lot of cute! It’s got the great arm coverage that you love from the brand, but has design details to make it stand out from the rest. The shorter front hem is the perfect half tuck look, while still offering hip and butt coverage from the longer back. If you love the Sawyer or Mandy Top - this fit is very similar! The Tori Tank was a design that came from our classic camisole style Camille Tank. I was craving a tank top that mimicked a t-back or racerback tank, while still offering great coverage of the underarm area (IYKYK), semi-fitted but comfortable, while still being a great layering piece. The Tori’s racerback detail is perfect for layering under tops like Devon or Ella to give a cut-out detail look to your tops. And it's our favorite combo of comfort and style so you can go from work to your workout without changing!  I also wanted to bring back a couple of crowd favorites that you’ve been letting us know you’d like to see again. The Sami Top, aka our boatneck style, is perfect for the petite girl! It's everything you love about the Misa Top, just shorter to give your body portion and elongate your legs! And there’s a fun little accent with the front pocket detail.  Then we have the Lara Top. She made a quick appearance a couple of years back when we were still at Ala Moana. She’s flowy and oversized, and features a v-neck with fun tie details. She looks great with all our bottoms and can easily be dressed up or down for a flattering and stylish look.  So many fun styles in this Part Deux of our Off the Grid collection. I can’t wait to see what you pick out!  May your Spring season be filled with joy and new opportunities... – Allison

This collection is all about new beginnings. Giving ourselves permission to try new things, to go off the beaten path, and to open ourselves up to new experiences that excite us. I've named this collection "Off The Grid" to represent this journey. It's about looking inward to our own experiences, our wants and needs, and creating a source of energy from within. Our hope is that this collection will inspire you to go against the norms of what everyone else is doing, and focus on what YOU want. When I was creating this collection, I pushed my own design boundaries by trying new fabrications and colors. We added a Cotton Modal fabric. It's something very new to us and a step away from our beloved Rayon Jersey fabric! I wanted to give us a little more structure, without compromising on comfort with the Cotton Modal. The color selection is where I really pushed the boundaries. Our new Firefly color is bright and cheery, with a base of green in it that compliments most skin tones. To balance the Firefly color, I added Midnight - a dark navy to give the collection depth. Light and dark need each other to exist which is represented in these two colors. I also wanted a color that would ground the whole collection. That comes in the form of Granola, a warm brownish tone.  It provides the sustenance we need on our journey. It is the base we always go back to, and a perfect compliment for all of our Spring looks. It keeps us grounded, warm and fulfilled. Finally, the print. Our Off The Grid print is a design from the past. Reintroducing it was an opportunity for me to look back at a part of my journey and pay homage to it. The original print was called Meridian Lines, and it was created for a collection when we were in Ala Moana Center, a point in my life that felt dark in comparison to the present. It was a time where I faced hardships, as we all did. A time during the pandemic, the shutdown, and a pivoting point of our lives as we knew it. It was a time of struggle for a lot of small businesses. It was a struggle for me to keep my head above water, to keep myself positive, and to stay focused on the horizon ahead. Bringing this print back was important for me. To take something that was created in a dark time and bring warmth and new life into it. I chose a warm palette for this reiteration of the print with warmer gray lines on a warm white fabric. During the design process, I reshaped the meaning of each stroke. This print now stands for our ability to use a different energy source. To look within ourselves to find the power to continue on in the face of adversity. To choose the path less traveled. To step into the unknown. This is what this collection means to me.  I hope it inspires you in the same way it has for me. -Allison

This may sound a little strange, but this collection was my palette cleanser of sorts. With the closing of Ala Moana and me trying to "find myself" and my creative voice once again, I needed to start fresh. So I went for classic earth tones that helped to ground me and give me the space and freedom to explore.   This collection - Earth, Wind and Fire is more of a nod to grounding myself to the earth - through the wind and the fire; instead of a nod to the band - whom I do love and while writing this post, I am playing the song September! LOL! This collection is the re-start of something new . . . its that moment where the butterfly chrysalis is just turning black, where we all know what is going to happen next, and with lots of excitement, we take a big inhale and wait.  I'm still in my chrysalis, I am still waiting to re-emerge . . . and while it doesn't look like it from the outside, amazing things are happening under the surface (or more appropriately, within). And so this collection is my offering to you - to be able take those small moments of quiet, to ground and re-start.  It can happen in a few breaths, getting back to center, but it is so valuable and worthwhile.  This is my palette cleanser, my moment of deep inhale - a chance to ground myself and feel the Earth below my feet, allow the wind to whip my hair and feel the warmth of a growing fire.  I am ready for whatever happens next.