We are always looking for bright colors and some sunshine in the polluted grayness of Beijing. Aloÿse de La Ronde, creator of the brand Aloha Baraka, no doubt felt the same way when creating these colorful dresses, bags, and fabrics that make you smile through the PM2.5. Each time I see her fabrics I can’t help but wonder, how on earth did she find the amazing inspiration to create these super cute dresses?
Aloÿse de la Ronde is of French descent and has been in Beijing for the last eight years. She wanted to find the perfect dress to make Beijing a bit more cheerful. When she could not find her style in stores, de la Ronde decided to make them herself. She wanted colorful fashion that would make an impact, and once people started noticing her designs, they were all immediately interested.
After she was done revamping her own closet and redecorating her home with flashy fabrics, she started on her friend’s wardrobes. In May 2016 she decided to start her brand, Aloha Baraka. She had people ready to help her with fashion shoots and to contribute in making her new brand a success.
She sources her fabric from different places around the world. When de la Ronde receives fabrics, she does tests to ensure the fabric’s colors are washing machine proof, as this is one of her requirements to make sure they can be easily cleaned. As a mother myself I can’t agree more that only machine washable dresses will do these days.
De la Ronda only makes a limited number of dresses in each fabric as she wants the pieces to be unique and special. She also makes use of spacious pockets as a part of her signature design, which adds to the unique utilitarian character of her products. What is more special is the name she gave to her brand, Aloha Baraka, in a bid to combine the best of two cultures and work in a minuscule way towards not only creating beauty through these unique threads but also a better and more loving world.
De la Ronda explained; “Aloha means mutual regard and affection and extends warmth in caring with no obligation in return. Aloha is the essence of relationships in which each person is important to every other person for collective existence. Baraka is an Arabic word and can be found within physical objects, places, and people. This force begins by flowing directly from God into a creation that is worthy of Baraka. These creations endowed with Baraka can then transmit the flow of Baraka to the other creations.”
Photos: Courtesy of Aloha Baraka
