Isle designers featured during Shop A Le'a

Nadine Kam photos
Allison Izu Song showed her new petite denim collection at Nordstrom on March 24 as part of the week's Shop A Le'a events at Ala Moana Center.

Ala Moana Center's national retailers are well-represented during the mall's annual Shop A Le'a event, but it was also good to see local designers being promoted by two of the biggest retailers in the mall.

At Nordstrom on March 24, there was a display of vintage Tori Richard designs juxtaposed with current designs to celebrate the long history of the island brand. And over in the Petites department, Allison Izu Song was showing her latest denim collection.

She's had an arduous journey to get to this point, so it's great to see her get this attention. In my interview with her the previous week, she said there were many times she felt like giving up, but petite women will appreciate the fact she didn't.

From there it was on to Neiman Marcus, where Andy South was showing a small, brilliantly edited collection of dresses and separates in bright yellow, blue-grays, tan and white.

It was amazing to see the collection on the floor, having been there—and feeling frantic about it myself—when it was created, literally, in about three days.

Interestingly, with American shoppers still feeling strapped for cash, both Allison and Andy are setting their sights overseas.

Vintage Tori Richard on display at Nordstrom.

The new Tori Richard looks.

Fans of Allison Izu denim browse the racks at Nordstrom.

Allison with Ki-ele's Marylea Conrad. They started their businesses at the same time,  and met during a trunk show at Split Obsession in Hawaii Kai.

Allison's husband Young Song and daughter Olive.

Andy South with models Justine Leilani Edwards, left, and Breanne McClary. South's designs are at Neiman Marcus.

More of Andy's designs on the floor ...

... and on the models.