Isabel de Sousa is the founder and creative director of Akalia Official, a limited-edition women’s fashion brand. Born in Caracas, Venezuela, Isabel holds a triple major from the USA in economics, marketing, and management, along with an MBA. With a deep passion for selling, solving problems, scale, and heels, she built Akalia from the ground up into a brand featured in Vogue and Glamour and carried at big-name retailers such as Saks and Nordstrom.
Isabel de Sousa Questionnaire
Q. As both a designer and a founder, what does it truly feel like to build something that is entirely your own?
A. It feels like the most honest expression of who I am. Akalia started as a dream I carried with me from being an immigrant with dreams of the U.S.—this idea that I could create pieces that made women feel powerful and polished without sacrificing quality or accessibility. Building something entirely your own means every win is deeply personal, but so is every setback. There’s no hiding behind someone else’s vision. It’s equal parts terrifying and exhilarating, and I wouldn’t trade it for anything.
Q. Akalia has grown into a successful and recognized brand over time. How has your relationship with your work evolved as the brand has matured?
A. In the early days I was doing everything — designing, packing orders by hand, running to the post office, answering every DM myself. My relationship with the work was pure survival mode, fueled by passion. As Akalia has matured and been recognized by publications like Vogue and Glamour and carried by retailers like Nordstrom, I’ve learned to step back and think more strategically. I’ve grown from being just the maker to being the visionary. My relationship with Akalia now is less about doing everything and more about protecting the integrity of what we’ve built while pushing it forward.
Q. What do you love most about being a designer today? What continues to inspire and excite you in your creative process?
A. What I love most is the direct connection to the women who wear Akalia. When someone messages me and says I love how this makes me feel that is everything. What inspires me is designing for real life. I’m not designing for a runway fantasy; I’m designing for the woman who wants to look effortlessly put together every single day. That intersection of luxury and durability is where I live creatively, and it never gets old.
Q. From hand-packing orders to being carried by retailers like Nordstrom, Saks, Macy’s, and Lord & Taylor, what has that journey taught you?
A. It taught me that no one is coming to save you, and that’s actually the most empowering realization. Every door that opened for Akalia was a door I knocked on, followed up on, and knocked on again. The journey from my living room to major stores taught me resilience, patience, and the importance of never compromising on quality just to move faster. It also taught me to bet on myself even when the industry didn’t know my name yet. If you believe in your product deeply enough, the right people will eventually see what you see.
Q. As Akalia continues to evolve, what can we expect next from the brand?
A. We’re expanding the line with pieces that are versatile enough to stack and layer but bold enough to stand on their own. We’re also growing our boutique presence and exploring new retail partnerships. Beyond product, I’m passionate about building a community around Akalia. We recently hosted our Stack, Glow & Sip event at our boutique location in Coral Gables, and that kind of in-person connection with our customers is something you’ll see a lot more of. Akalia has always been about more than fashion; it’s about how our pieces make you feel, and we’re just getting started.
