A re-imagined future for Allison Izu

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!