Designing a Dream

Avian Ku ’09 continues the family business by launching her own clothing brand

It’s no surprise that Avian Ku ’09 was drawn to the fashion industry. Thirty-five years ago, her mother, Loukie Wong, founded 88 Tees, a vintage-inspired storefront that has grown into a Waikiki destination. As a kid, she even inspired the store’s iconic graphic “Yaya,” seen on many designs. “I’ve always loved creating, and I have been influenced by my mom all these years. She is definitely my mentor, and my family gave me that gift,” Ku says.

During her time at HPA, Ku would help at the store during school breaks. After graduation, she attended the competitive Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising (FIDM) in LA. “FIDM really made me grow as a person, and after completing my associate degree I thought ‘Maybe it’s not enough to go home yet.’ My parents are from Taiwan and Hong Kong, and I grew up speaking Japanese and Mandarin, so I decided to go to Shanghai and get my business degree.”

After four years in China, Ku returned to Hawai‘i to visit family and consider her next move. It was then that a friend and casting director approached her with an opportunity to join Terrace House, a Japanese reality series planning to film in Hawai‘i. The show, then in its third season, has six strangers live together while each works toward a personal goal, such as art, modeling or, in Ku’s case, a clothing brand.

While Ku explains that this was beyond her comfort zone, it gave her the opportunity to launch her brand much earlier than originally planned. “I thought I’d go back to Shanghai, get a job, gain experience, and then maybe create something,” she says. Instead, Ku stayed in Hawai‘i, and in 2017 her brand Ila Swim was officially born.

Along with the show came a robust social media following, one that caught Ku off guard. “Being a Japanese show, I did not expect it to be popular to the point where people in Hawai‘i would recognize me,” she explains. But Ku worked to see the positive side and focused on growing her business.

With COVID-19, sales slowed, and Ku is now building Ila Swim back up. She currently sells online and in a few O‘ahu boutiques. She is planning a few pop-ups that will partner with community non-profits and is working to make her product more sustainable.

Ku hopes ultimately that Ila Swim will become a brand that resonates with many and doesn’t stick to a single trend. “The motto for 88 Tees is ‘Every fit for every style,’ and I think that also correlates to me. In fashion, you don’t just stick to one thing. If it comes to you, you create. And that’s life too, there’s no rules. We’re in a world where everything is possible.” •