An Ode to Past Travels & The Journey To A More Sustainable Future

In conversation with Mai Dalle Cort on Aila Blue’s journey into sustainability.

Europe fills our dreams – endless vineyards of Tuscany, bold energy in Barcelona and visions of the vibrant Grecian sea. Believe us when we say, there is nothing quite like the feeling you get when you visit a new place and take a little piece of it home with you. And while we are advocates for the health and safety of the world we live in, we are certainly feeling that island fever just as much as the rest of you.

 If anything can cure boredom and the feeling of being stuck, it’s shopping. And in light of our obsession for connecting with the world, we spoke with Mai Dalle Cort, creative visionary and designer of our island favorite brand, Aila Blue to give us the inside scoop on their journey into sustainability and the inspiration that brings all of her pieces to life.

Aila Blue is an illustrious and timeless apparel brand inspired by the wanders of the world. “As a Sagittarian I am a wanderer at heart. I was born into a life of travel as my parents were hippies, young and from different countries. Functional, feminine clothing that travels well was a foundation of this brand. And vibrant prints that are inspired by culture, art and travel.” Dalle Cort tells HOKU. Their most recent collection was inspired by Mai’s travels to Barcelona (ugh, how dreamy!) and captures the essence the vibrant culture of Flamenco dancers and beautiful señoritas in Spain. Their combination of brightly colored prints and delicate ruffles paired with minimalist dancer like pieces have given us a serious case of the travel bug in the best way possible.

While their sustainability journey has just begun, Aila Blue’s efforts are certainly on the right track. Dall Corte tells HOKU that her process and focus on change is ever-evolving much like the fashion industry itself. “Today we are proud to offer a sustainable range of swimwear made from Italian Econyl which is a delicious compression fabric made from plastic found in the ocean. It is perpetually recyclable and kind to mother nature. Additionally, we have invested into biodegradable packaging as it broke our hearts each season seeing the thousands of plastic polybags filling up our land mines. We’re also very proud to be members of 1% for the Planet as a way to connect our passion to purpose through giving. Alongside 3000 other worldwide business members, we donate 1% of our annual revenue to environmental causes close to our hearts.”

However, as they continue to progress through their sustainability journey and continue to rework their processes, Dalle Corte mentions that it hasn’t always been easy. When asked about the most challenging aspect of becoming a more sustainable business she brings up a very real point— change is sometimes a very difficult process. “Becoming sustainable as an existing brand with a 10-year history proves to be challenging. We must disrupt our normal business activities, experiment with new suppliers, challenge our current suppliers, test new products and educate ourselves regularly on new processes available to us. All of which contains risk of failure that a small brand like us would not be able to financially sustain. It’s challenging but well worth the efforts. For us it’s not a marketing strategy, which is why you won’t find us spending budget on shouting from the rooftops of our sustainable journey. We’re very conscious of not greenwashing our efforts. We know this is a lifelong commitment that does not end at the office. It continues into our home and the personal choices we make. It’s the future and necessary and we are SO on board.”

Inspired by the canvas that is our world, Mai’s efforts towards sustainability teach us about the grace that comes from changing and moving away from your comfort zone. When working with brands like Aila Blue, we’re inspired by the ways in which they are willing to be disruptive. With collections that never go out of style. a passion for always looking at the beauty offered by our world, and a mission that’s grounded upon doing what’s right, Aila Blue is a must have for every dreamgirl’s wardrobe.

This editorial was shot entirely on 35mm film using Kodak Portra160.

Model: @beatrice_eva

Words: Kiana Kanoa

Photos: Kiana Kanoa