Aiala

Now based in Honolulu, the designer talks about dressing the global island girl, her new wetsuit line, and life after TOQA.

Text Stephanie Gancayco
Interview Eunica Escalante
Photography Cole Turner

From Hella Pinay 04: The Fashion Issue. Get your copy here.

Introducing Aiala, a trailblazing designer whose creative journey unfolds against the vibrant backdrop of Hawaii’s cultural tapestry. The daughter of a Hawaiian jeweler father and Filipina costume designer mother, Aiala began her career with a BFA in apparel design from RISD and a stint at Telfar. Formerly a driving force behind tropical-it-girl-meets-eco-fashion pioneer TOQA, her venture into solo design with last summer’s Date Night collection reflects a profound connection to her surroundings and heritage. Inspired by Hawaii's slower pace and rich material culture, she blends remnants from local shops with personal artifacts from the Philippines, crafting pieces that embody both functionality and island cool.

Her upcoming wetsuit line, born from a profound love for the ocean and a commitment to sustainability, promises to redefine the industry with eco-friendly materials like seaweed lycra and 100% rubber. Aiala’s designs not only celebrate island life but also challenge traditional norms, aiming to empower and clothe women in a sport historically dominated by men. With her distinct blend of style and purpose, Aiala is at the forefront of sustainable designers for a new era.

Handbag, Aiala. **Photography** Cole Turner.

All clothing and handbag, Aiala. **Photography** Cole Turner.

Tell me a bit about the Date Night collection and how it came about.

It came about kind of organically because [my partner] Alec asked me to be a part of this show with him. He’s the projectionist for Kaiao Space. So it was nice to have a due date and also the freedom to just have fun and do a little collection. I mostly used scraps that I had in my house, different remnants and fabric from local shops here. And then we went on a trip to Japan a month before the show, I got a few more things.

How do you think that moving back to Hawai’i has changed your approach as a designer in terms of visuals? Because I feel like this last collection was very Hawai’i-inspired.

I think design is all about materials. A lot of it was just rummaging through what my mom has saved. She has a collection of all her favorites that she's had over the years. And I have the same from the Philippines and college. And then also looking at what's here locally at fabric stores and a lot of Filipino wholesalers for trinkets and stuff. That was cool to see all the aunties, and that's where I got the coconut rings and the embroidery shells. It's a nice slower lifestyle, I would say. And that's inspired me, even the way to work. Everything I want to do is more ‘work hard, play hard’ balance. I feel like people do that really well here. The change of pace has been really nice, and definitely made me not go crazy over the show. I had a really great time, sewing everything, designing everything, and there was no pushback from the universe. It was harder for me to have that in a bigger city. That balance. So even just the better sleep influenced my design [laughs].

Just like, being a functional human? And not a cog in a machine?

Yeah, totally.

So the designs for this show came out really organically.

Totally. And it was interesting to see how a lot of people were like, oh, this reminds me of TOQA, this reminds me of TOQA. I was like, well, yes, 'cause I am TOQA. This is another expression. It was interesting using different materials, seeing where my style is for a unisex capsule collection for a date night. Like there's no “sport” in this collection, besides aesthetic cues maybe. But this was ultimately made for what we would wear as island people who want to look good on date night with themselves or family, or their loved ones. So I am dressing for the island girl no matter what.

Before it was like a Philippine island girl. I guess it's like, global island girl.

It's global.

About your new line, I guess my biggest question is: is this something new for you? Is [Date Night] going to be the birth of your solo career as a designer?

No, I'm working on something new. I'm starting a wetsuit company. I'm still trying to figure out where and how I'm gonna make it, my supply chain and everything. But I've already got my logo and the design part, I'm just trying to pull it together. And also just try to find the right team to help me. Especially here.

Because this is gonna be a solo project of mine, I wanna start a little slower and also try to figure out how this new life plays since I moved back [to Hawai’i] during Covid. The [2022 Hawai’i] Triennial was convenient [because] I was gonna come back anyway, but when Covid happened it was so bad in the Philippines that I really wanted to get back to my parents. I feel like my parents are getting older and I wanna stay around them, and I'm just kind of helping out my mom and stuff right now. But anyway, my new life is here. I learned a lot from TOQA and I just want to review everything and see how it works. I've been asking around here how production is made. Like independent brands, how do they get their fabric? A lot of it is still off-island, which makes sense because it's so small. But people make it work.

To read the full interview, get your copy of Hella Pinay 04: The Fashion Issue here.

Models and Artists Aiala and Alec Assistant Photographer Vincent Bercasio
Shot on location at Kaiao Space Gallery, Honolulu, Hawai’i