Blog Posts

Allison shares her holiday gift picks featuring this year's best-selling top, Hannah! As well as your new Holiday Collection. Check our her gift guide videos and see how she styles the Hannah Top multiple ways.  

If you've been following along then you know that I got injured late March after going on a trip to Los Angeles. And April became a month long healing process for me–physically, emotionally, and spiritually. It was slower than I expected, and required me to really take my time and listen to what my body–and my spirit–were trying to tell me. What started as physical healing turned into a deeper exploration of identity, values, and the stories I've carried for years.  I’ve always been on a spiritual path, learning through experiences like yoga, reiki, acupuncture, astrology—basically anything that’s helped me better understand myself. And this experience has given me the opportunity to bring all of my learnings together to heal myself. Reconnecting with My Japanese-American Identity One of the biggest realizations during this time was around my relationship with my Japanese heritage. I thought I had a strong connection to that part of myself, but through this healing process, I was able to unlock some learning and growth areas. I’m a fourth-generation Japanese-American, born and raised in Hawai‘i. That’s not unusual here—many of us share similar backgrounds. But looking back, most of my friends growing up were Hawaiian, Portuguese, or Chinese—the local mix of Hawai‘i. I didn’t have many close friends who shared the same background and heritage as me and so over time, I kind of overlooked that part of myself. When I moved to New York City for college, I tried spending time with other Asian students, but I didn’t quite fit in. Most of them were first-generation Korean, Chinese, or Japanese—and they spoke their native languages. They were welcoming, but I still felt like I wasn’t “Asian enough.” And at the time, I didn’t really stop to pay attention to how that made me feel about my culture and I just pushed those feelings aside. Healing the Inner Disconnect Now, as I continue healing my hips and thinking about how I want to evolve the Allison Izu brand, I’ve had to reconnect with my roots. A business coach recently asked me, “What are your personal values, and how do they connect to your business?” That question really stayed with me and was a scary one I knew I needed to explore deeper. I had to journal about it, sit with it, and explore what it meant. One of the values I keep returning to is living my authentic truth. My spiritual journey has always been about letting go of old programming and limiting beliefs that make me feel “less than.” And I realized: that’s the same work I want this business to do for others. If I can heal that within myself, then maybe our clothing can be a small catalyst for others to do the same. That reflection helped me rewrite some of the stories I’d internalized. The story of not being “Japanese enough.” The story of not fitting in. I’m choosing now to accept myself as a fourth-generation Japanese-American woman who grew up in Hawai‘i. My love for this island and its culture mixed with my deep respect for my Japanese roots, is what makes me unique, something I’m finally ready to embrace and share. AAPINH Heritage Month: Finding Connection Through Culture As we celebrate AAPINH Heritage Month, I’m reminded of how beautifully diverse Asian cultures are—and how they add to the vibrant fabric of Hawai‘i and the world. Our shared love of food, traditions, and small rituals can bring us together in the most unexpected ways. Maybe it’s your favorite poke spot, your love of sriracha, or the first time you tasted a Spam musubi—these are the little things that remind us how connected we really are. And through that connection, I also honor my ancestors. Their dedication to tradition and craftsmanship is something I carry with me—and try to reflect in everything we create at Allison Izu. Being born and raised in Hawai‘i gave me a deep appreciation for the land and being mindful of the Earth. That awareness influences how we source fabrics and choose to manufacture as close to home as possible. It’s my ancestry, my upbringing and all of my learning that makes me and this brand unique and special. And I'm finally allowing myself to appreciate and honor that. A Brand (and Life) Rooted in Truth As the team and I work to slowly re-launch the Allison Izu brand, I’m excited to share more of myself through the work we do. I promise to lead with honesty, openness, and authenticity—so that together, we can let go of the things that hold us back and step into lives that feel more whole, balanced, and harmonious. That’s my hope and wish for all of us! -Allison 

We get it–when you find a great piece, you want to wear it on repeat. That's exactly why these styles have become best-sellers (and why we keep bringing them back–and now in Heather Grey). If you haven't met the Becca Top or the Emi Top yet, let's introduce you.  The Becca Top: A V-Neck That Gets It Right  Inspired by a men’s undershirt but designed to flatter you, the Becca Top is the elevated tee that's intentionally feminine and flattering. It’s all in the details:✔ Easy, relaxed sleeves – No clinging under the arms. A dropped shoulder and angled sleeve keep things cool and effortless. ✔ Flattering shape – A subtle bust dart helps it skim your body in all the right places, while the curved hemline elongates your legs. ✔ Curved hem with extra structure = coverage without cutting off your proportions. It’s one of those everyday essentials you’ll reach for again and again, and now it’s available in Heather Grey.  The Emi Top: The Boxy Tee That Flatters Everyone The Emi is what happened when we focused on create the ultimate "throw-on-and-go" top. This style became an instant customer favorite, and for good reason: ✔ Wider neckline + relaxed fit = no tucking needed, just throw it on and go ✔ Proportions made for petites = coverage where you want it, leg-lengthening where you need it ✔ Pairs with everything – Whether you love joggers, jeans, or wide-leg pants, the Emi Top just works. Basically, the Emi is that top you grab when you want to feel comfy and look put-together (which, let’s be honest, is every day).  The base of any good outfit is comfy bottoms that move with you. Meet our best-selling joggers!   The South St Jogger: The jogger, redefined–Bold & Modern   Not your average jogger, the South St. is our wide-leg take on the classic style–made to flatter petite dreams with its balanced proportions. ✔ Modern, Relaxed Silhouette with an elastic hem that creates soft, effortless drape. ✔ An elastic waistband that moves with you–some customers prefer sizing down for a more tailored fit. ✔ Flattering for curves: Complement fuller hips, thighs, and calves while keeping the look sleek and intentional Style the South St Jogger with shorter tops for the perfect proportion. Now in Heather Grey, it gives you that “comfy sweats” feel—without the frumpy look.   The Sunrise Jogger: The one that makes other pants jealous Our all-time best-seller and for good reason. It’s the ultimate on-the-go pants. Our customers have dubbed the Sunrise Jogger “The Travel Pant” and for good reason. ✔ Joggers designed specifically for shorter proportions? Yes, finally. You never have to worry about these covering your feet. ✔ Incredibly versatile – dress it up or down, wear it for travel, errands, lounging, or going out. ✔ Ultra-flattering fit – tapered just right to elongate legs with a smooth waistband that never digs in.  When comfort, style, and the perfect fit come together–you get the joggers that everyone keeps coming back for. 

I’ve definitely evolved as a traveler. As a daughter of a former travel agent, I was raised to be very organized when it came to traveling. Itinerary for every day, full of activities and all the details. It was A LOT and it would make my husband crazy LOL! He’s a “can we just relax by the pool?” kinda traveler... Fortunately, I’ve found a good balance now. I think it's a reflection of the go-with-the-flow kind of energy I’ve been practicing in my everyday life. I’ve adapted my packing to be the same way too. And it’s inspired me to design styles that can be converted or have many uses. I often think - “what do I want in my suitcase when I travel?” Our new Fall Collection features a lot of styles that I take on my trips, in a color palette that works with everything. For a week trip, I will usually pack:  4 bottoms 5 tank tops - these are to layer with or wear as pajamas/loungewear 7 tops - one for every day, and 3 coverups/jackets And because every piece I design can mix and match with another, it makes getting ready super easy. On the airplane, I ALWAYS wear our Sunrise Joggers. The elastic waistband is comfortable to sit long hours in, and the elastic hem won't ever touch the airplane bathroom floor (ick!). It has 4 deep pockets perfect for boarding passes, passports, Kleenex, and lip balm! And for fall trips, I will wear the Diana Blazer or Bryce Jacket and roll up the Milla Duster into my bag. It's perfect to use as a blanket for the kiddos or when my legs get cold! And if I’m going somewhere colder, I’ll layer a jacket over the Amari Coverup! I have to talk to you about Amari - she’s perfect on a trip because she can transform into 6 (and counting!) different styles. So you’ll always have the right style with this one coverup. I love her in Navy or Charcoal, since I usually wear black bottoms. Speaking of pants - it's always one Milo, one Coral, one Sunrise, and one South St when I pack. Each of these silhouettes gives me tons of options when I put outfits together. They all go from day to night easily. Each pair is designed so I can wear them with sneakers or heels. I don’t pack heels, so if I want to get dressed up - it's black boots for me! When it comes to tops, it's really a preference. Since we’re heading into cooler weather, here’s what I’d recommend: Anais (her cowl neck is great to act as a scarf), Joanna, Mandy, Sami, and Becca (or Emi). Don't forget your tanks and coverups. . . Max and Tori for tanks (both great to layer), and Loren, Milla, and Bobbi or Joni. Every piece can mix and match, which makes so many combinations on those days when you feel indecisive. I hope this helps you “go with the flow” whether you’re planning for your next trip or your week’s outfits!

Introducing our partner vendors for our JCCH event! We are so excited to announce that Mohala Eyewear, Healing Crystals by Kaulana, and Green Tea Leaves will be joining us for our upcoming event.

What I love most about our clothing is how versatile it is. No matter the occasion, it's easy to find a way to make our styles work. Summer is a great time to experiment with building a capsule wardrobe to make packing for your next trip a breeze.