Fabric + Design

We know that trying new styles can be scary—especially when it feels like everyone is telling you to wear shorter tops to get the "perfect proportion." But what if you're just not there yet? What if you love a little more coverage? What if trying a new silhouette feels more intimidating than inspiring? We hear you. And more importantly, we see you. From Allison: "As a designer who is currently going through body changes myself, I know what it feels like to look in the mirror and not recognize the person staring back at you. Some days, I love wearing a shorter-length top. Other days, I want more comfort and coverage—and that’s okay. This brand has always been about helping women feel beautiful and supported at every stage. You don’t have to wear a certain thing to be fashionable. You just need pieces that honor your body and make you feel like you again." Styling Tips for More Coverage (While Still Creating Balance) If shorter tops feel too revealing right now, here are some easy, body-loving styling tips you can try instead: 1. Try a Half-Tuck Tuck the front of your longer top into your waistband to define your waistline without fully exposing it. It's a subtle trick that creates shape and draws the eye upward. 2. Look for Curved Hems Tops like the Becca and Hannah offer curved hems that elongate the legs visually, even when the top is longer. They're designed to float away from the body and provide gentle coverage where you want it. 3. Use Layering to Your Advantage Throw on an open third piece like the Loren Kimono, Milla Duster, or Diana Blazer. These layers draw the eye vertically, breaking up your shape and creating balance without needing to go shorter on top. 4. Pair with Slim or Tapered Bottoms Longer tops work best with bottoms that hug the leg. Styles like the Sunrise Jogger, Miki Pant, or Brooklyn create contrast and structure while keeping you comfortable and stylish. You’re Not Alone—And You’re Not Doing It Wrong Many women have told us: “I'm still not ready to try shorter tops but I can see what Allison means when it create a balanced proportion for your outfit. She recommended I start with the Becca Top. The high sides give the same feeling but I get the coverage over my "FUPA" that I need. I like that you can wear the Becca Top with leggings, jeans, joggers—it works with so many different bottoms.” Remember, style is personal. There is no "right" look—only the one that feels right for you. Whether you're rocking a half-tucked Mandy or layering your Becca under a kimono, you're already doing it beautifully. Ready to Explore? Our collection includes tops and bottoms designed for real bodies, in all their forms. Whether you're drawn to shorter tops or love a longer silhouette, we’ve got something that will help you feel balanced, confident, and 100% yourself. Explore Styles for More Coverage →

Have you ever looked in the mirror and thought, "Something's off... but I can't put my finger on it?" You’re not alone—and it’s not you, it’s the proportion. That’s why we design with something called the Rule of Thirds in mind. It’s a simple styling principle that can totally transform how your clothes fit and feel—especially if you’re petite, midsize, or experiencing changes in your body like motherhood or menopause. What Is the Rule of Thirds? Originally a principle used in art and photography, the Rule of Thirds breaks a composition into three parts—1/3 and 2/3—to create visual harmony and balance. When applied to fashion, this idea helps us create clothing that flatters your unique shape by emphasizing proportion. Instead of splitting your outfit into equal halves (which can visually cut you off), we create outfits that follow a 1/3 top to 2/3 bottom ratio. This draws the eye upward, lengthens your legs, and creates an effortlessly balanced silhouette. Why It Matters for Petite and Midsize Women If you're 5'6" and under, midsize, or going through transitions like menopause, you might've found that clothes rarely feel like they were made for your body. Most fashion doesn’t account for changes in waist placement, bust, hips, or length. That’s why our design philosophy goes beyond trends. We use real women as our fit models—women with curves, height differences, and lived experience—so that our garments not only fit, they flatter. The Rule of Thirds is our secret weapon to making sure you feel elongated, balanced, and totally yourself in everything we make. The Fit Formula: Shorter Tops, Balanced Looks Here’s the trick: A shorter-length top + the right bottoms = an effortlessly balanced look. By hitting the right spot, our shorter-length tops create a natural waistline. They visually elongate the legs and help your outfit feel intentional and harmonious. Here’s how it works: A shorter top defines your waist The right bottoms create a lengthening effect Together, they balance your proportions perfectly Real Women, Real Style We design with you in mind. Take a look at how our team (5'1" and 5'3") wear our shorter-length tops with high-rise bottoms. You can see the Rule of Thirds in action—and how the right combination can elongate the leg line, balance the body, and boost confidence. Whether it’s our Milo Pant or a jogger, we match them with tops like the Emi or Sam to create silhouettes that feel right. Why We Care We don’t follow rules for the sake of fashion. We use design as a tool for empowerment. Because when clothes fit and flatter, you don’t just look good—you feel seen, supported, and confident. Our promise is to keep designing with care, honesty, and understanding. And yes, the Rule of Thirds is part of that promise—a little secret styling weapon that helps women feel whole and beautiful, every single day. Ready to Try It? Explore our curated collection of shorter-length tops designed to help you look taller, feel stronger, and embrace your proportions with confidence. Not ready for shorter tops just yet?That’s okay—we’ve got you. If you’re feeling more comfortable in longer lengths or want extra coverage around your midsection, we’ve put together a guide full of styling tips and outfit ideas that still honor your proportions  Click here to read more.

Don’t you find it weird that you’re a different size in other brands? That’s all because there’s no industry standard that everyone follows. We all use different fit models which results in the differences you experience. And on top of that, the majority of the fit models have unrealistic proportions. What’s a fit model, you ask? Fit models are what designers use to check the fit, drape, visual appearance of a design on an actual person.  I didn’t know all of this until I went to design school. I saw first hand why fit is so important in my last year at FIT (ironically the name of the design school I attended). I was assigned a fit model who was thin, lanky, 5’8” and did not resemble my body shape. We basically had the same measurements (bust, hips, waist) but the size inches in height that separated us was super obvious. And it altered the proportions of the designs greatly. It was evident through late night sessions fixing my patterns for my projects, trying on the same samples for my 5’8” model on my 5’2” frame that proportions matter. Everything looked horrible because it wasn’t made for my body type.  These disproportionate measurements were the reason why things didn’t fit me. Hips were too low and wide, legs would usually be too snug, the knee break would usually hit me mid calf, whiskering or pulling at the crotch, back pockets too big and too low and of course, the obvious long inseam. The tears and frustration trying on pants, shopping for something that fit wasn’t my fault. All these issues weren't because of me or you or our bodies. The measurements and fit models used were never going to be able to create styles that better suited our body types. Through these late night sessions of trying to make it work, I realized that my mission was to create clothing for women who didn’t fall into the typical fit model measurements. And so the journey began to understand why clothes never really fit me and what I could do about it.  So I started by finding fit models that were closer to my proportions.  In the beginning, it was friends or interns - most who were 5’4” and shorter. I’d have them try my designs for jeans, pants, and tops on their bodies and have “fit parties” to get their feedback and input. In addition to that, the main fit model was and continues to be me. So as I’ve aged from my 20’s to my 40’s, another realization happened. Other parts of my body started to shift and change, primarily my mid section. And through this phase of my body’s evolution, a new change is taking place in my designs. We’re working to include more body types, more shapes, more heights into the mix of our fit models. To listen and consider what our customers tell us about their own fit issues - sleeves that are too tight, armholes that are unflattering, back areas that need more room… the list goes on. So now I rely on my team who have different body shapes and my mom who plays a big part in our design and fit process. It’s important for me to see each style on different bodies and prioritize models that are us (friends, customers, family) in our photoshoots. I want to show you how our designs will really look on you.  Our priority is to make women feel relevant - to remind you that you’re not alone, you’re not to blame for the mistakes of the fashion industry, and there’s someone (us!) thinking about how to make clothing better fit you. The average American woman is 5’3” and 170 lbs. And when including other ethnicities it shifts to an average of 5’1” for Asians and 5’2” for Latinas. And these differences should be celebrated. We shouldn’t feel less than because somewhere in the past, someone decided to use a fit model with “perfect” sizing.  Like everything else in our current society - we need to question why things are done a certain way and use our voice to create change when needed.  Because if we allow the status quo to continue, we’re supporting the separation and insecurity that happens quietly in dressing rooms around the world. So I’m here to remind you that it’s not your fault, you’re not alone, and your body is perfect just the way it is! -Allison

Learn more about the fabric we use at Allison Izu. Every choice of fabric, color, and print is made with the intention of maximizing wearability, maximizing closet space, and ensuring that items last through multiple washings and wearings. 

From start to finish, I pay attention to fit and fabric above all else. I want to highlight the beauty within us all and make people feel amazing in what they wear. Wearing fabrics they love, made by people they know. Understanding that things can change at any point but when you know you can rely on what you’ve invested in, it adds a sense of community. 

Today we're talking color theory with Allison. She walks us through how to brighten up your wardrobe and gives some tips for incorporating more color or prints into your outfits. Specifically, she'll show you the colors from our newest collection: Off the Grid, Granola, Firefly, and Midnight. Learn about the undertones present in these colors and how those mix and match with other styles. Really it's all about trying something new and having fun with it.

"To change your external world, you must change your internal world . . ." I've never been afraid of change. It's been a hope of mine, to live in a fluid state with what I'm guided to do and accept. For me, that's what it takes to "live in the light" and be AUDACIOUS.  Two things I am pushing myself to do in all areas of my life this year. So when it came to my designs, it became clear that I needed to change. My internal world about designing needed to match my external world (this brand). I used to design for comfort - to give myself and my customers styles that are effortless and easy. And while this is still the core of the brand, something has shifted within me. Now, I want to infuse a sense of design that makes people feel a little "uncomfortable." I want the style to push us a little outside of our comfort zone. I believe that when we're outside of this zone, the real change and evolution can begin.  It's where we start to inch ourselves out from the dark shadows, the places we've been told to hide, to live a quiet existence while we age. To not make too much noise or take up too much space.  This is where society has told us we belong. I don't want to live by someone else's rules, to make them feel safe and comfortable. I want to live in my light and embrace all of me for what I am and not what someone says I should be.  I believe fashion can be a suit of armor to ready ourselves for the battle, but it can also be a cozy blanket that wraps us in warmth and comfort. I believe that we can be both, we can have both - to go out into the world The Protector and The Protected. This is what I want my clothing to be.  This latest collection - Le Feline - was a stretch of my own comfort level. It was something my heart and soul had been craving and I was too afraid to unleash. This print and color seemed too bold, too wild - but I couldn't keep it in the shadows anymore.  I was finally ready to share this side of myself with you, because I felt like it would help myself heal and grow to the next level and do the same for you as you wear it.  The deep Evergreen color was a nod to the healing green nature that surrounds me every day in Manoa. Like a cozy hug from Mother Nature, that makes Manoa so warm and supportive. And to juxtapose it with a bold statement of the feline print - felt audacious yet comforting. Exactly what I wanted for us. When I design, every seam, every inch has a purpose - nothing is by accident. My intention for each design goes deep to the colors I choose and the prints I create. In every line and curve, there's a story and purpose. In every color I choose - there's a facet of life that I'm trying to coax out, to give space to.  My deeper purpose as a designer is to keep you comfortable, while helping you step out a little. To push you a little outside of your comfort zone, so you're able to see yourself in a new light. Because I believe that is where growth and evolution live, just a little outside of the shadow . . . And I hope you take these first steps with me.  -Allison 

I've been reminiscing a little bit about how I started in the fashion industry and what it looked like over 20 years ago. It was a scary place to be for most women. I don't know if you've had the same experience in your industry, but I always felt overlooked and excluded.  As a short Asian women, I wasn't seeing examples of myself in magazines or fashion features. We didn't have access to social media and so what we saw in the magazines was what we accepted as the truth. The self-doubt and questioning came up so much for me when I was shopping, especially for denim. Was it just me or "do these jeans make me look shorter?" Is that possible??  I literally thought I was alone in this battle.  Until I realized I wasn't - which is why I started my premium petite denim brand in 2007. And even though I got some attention here in Hawaii, I couldn't sell the brand into showrooms or other stores. Buyers and owners would literally tell me that they didn't have "shorter customers" and no one ever complained about the inseam of their jeans being too long.  Wait, "it IS just me!" then.  I let the negative self-talk spiral start all over again. Being from Hawaii, I thought maybe it was just a Hawaii thing, or there weren't enough Asians on the mainland. Slowly, I morphed my brand into something else and stopped focusing on expanding nationally. But the truth is, there is a need for a new kind of clothing company. Although my roots will always be about petites, I think my purpose is much bigger.  Not just to focus on inseams and the lengths of styles, but to think of the complete body of women when I design. Especially the body types that are all too often overlooked. I haven't met too many women who are the "ideal" 34-26-36 measurements -- this is the measurement of the model form that most designers create patterns from. My body measurements are 34-31-37 (eek!), no where close to what the "standards" designers are creating from. Which is usually why shopping for clothing can sometimes be a bit depressing . . . things are not made for my A body type, or my "extra" mid-section.  Why am I telling you all of this? Because I believe that education is empowerment.  I believe that when we have all the information about how things are done and why - we have a clearer understanding of what the truth is.  I'm not alone in having fit issues with clothing, I'm not the only one who hates shopping for pants, because I honestly don't know what size I will fit!  And with more education and empowerment - we can start to lean into making ourselves believe in the truth.   I'm working on leaning into the truth that my body is perfect just the way it is.  I won't be happier if I lose 10 lbs, I won't find more joy if I have a flat tummy. This is what I want to believe at my core, this is where I want to live from, where I want to design from and what I want to empower you to believe as well. We are all PERFECT just as we are!  And I'm committed to designing the most perfect styles for our perfect selves!  I'm here on this imperfect/perfect journey with you and I hope you take some time to look in the mirror and tell yourself how beautiful and perfect you are!  I love you so much!!

As it would go, the Universe had a small challenge for me at the end 2021 - my fabric vendor was going out of business.  Well, they didn't exactly say they were going out of business. They told me they weren't bringing in more colors or styles (uh, aka going out of business!!!).  It was a shock to my system. I went into problem solving mode (my favorite place to live) and decided to take a quick trip to LA to figure it out. For me, the price of fabric is a HUGE factor. I always want to be able to offer you these styles at an affordable price. But the thing that always outweighs price is QUALITY! If you ask me where my obsession for design lies, I can tell you it's always been with quality and fabrications. And I'm so grateful that I get to focus more on this as the business grows. It’s because of your support that I can look to improve the quality of fabrics we offer. Higher quality fabrics means a bigger price tag and higher minimums I'll need to make in an order - and I’ve only been able to consider this in the last couple of years because of your support and loyalty to this business.    I did some research before I went up to LA, called a few people, and asked around for referrals. I found some comparable fabric vendors who offered reasonable or similar price points, but I could NOT stop thinking about this one vendor and the quality of their fabrics! Their prices were higher than my previous fabric company, but the quality was unbeatable.  Plus, they provide services like creating custom colors and prints - the endless possibilities kick-started my imagination and ignited my creativity into hyperdrive. It's been a while since I felt that excited about sourcing fabrics again.  As we launch new collections this year, I know you’ll feel the difference.  I had no doubt that it'll be worth paying a little more to give you all the best. The weave is tight and the yarns are so smooth - it makes the fabric feel like butter!  The quality of the spandex woven into this knit makes for great drape (how the clothes fall on your body) as well as bounce back (the knit won't stretch out as you wear it). Their fabrics also have the most beautiful sheen to it, giving it a subtle shine for an elevated, "dressed up" look.  Now that the shock has worn off, I've come to realize it was all for the better to have lost my previous vendor and found this new one.  Yes, the minimums are higher and the price point is higher - but the upgrade in quality is totally worth it all.  My mission has always been to bring high quality fabrics and design techniques to you at an affordable price - and this is a great opportunity to offer you the perfect mix of luxury and affordability.   I'm so excited because you’ll get to experience this new fabric firsthand with our upcoming collection - "Earth, Wind and Fire". The colors are fun and sophisticated, and I know you’ll notice the difference in the fabric.  I’m so thrilled to share this new collection with you - I hope you love it as much as I do!