“When I moved to Kaua‘i, my world slowed down gracefully, but my appreciation for ‘the performance’ of a well-made garment didn’t change,” says Isabella Voldman, founder of her eponymous clothing brand, Isabella V. Originally from Taiwan, Voldman built a career as an opera singer in New York City before her travels through Europe ignited a new creative direction. She launched Isabella V after finding no pieces that could match, in her words, “the natural beauty of the island while maintaining the sophisticated, architectural elegance I loved in Europe.” The resulting collection — lightweight, effortless resortwear that moves between beachside ease and city dressing — draws from both worlds. “I’m inspired by the culture and history of European architecture and arts — the arches in Milan or the light hitting the lake in Como — balanced against the organic, wild textures and colors of Kaua‘i,” she explains. “My background in classical musical also plays a role; I think about the ‘rhythm’ of a dress — how the fabric moves when a woman walks and the timbre or texture of the materials.” Belgian linen dresses and sets are among the line’s mostsought-after pieces; the alpaca cardigans offer a refined option for cooler evenings on the island. This summer, Isabella V debuts its “silk chapter,” with pieces crafted from mulberry silk sourced directly from Como, Italy, available at select North Shore retailers including Hunter Gatherer in Kīlauea, Sway Hanalei, and 1 Hotel Hanalei Bay in Princeville. 

Isabella V.; isabellav.com