Our Story
Aille Design (pronounced: eye)
Our name Aille Design comes from the French verb Aller which means to move forward. Inclusivity is the direction the fashion industry needs to move forward in and we're leading this change! Fashion is for everyone.
The pronunciation i / eye alludes to the personal "i" and the physical "eye". The two dots in our logo also represent the Braille character for the letter "i". This pronunciation is a reminder that Aille Design products increase independence and empowerment. Through touch, the Braille reader is able to identify the clothing and can do so without assistive technology or help from someone sighted.
Our French name pays homage to Louis Braille. He is the founder of Braille, which originated in France. It's also a nod to the brand's Canadian culture and the pride we feel in being an emerging Canadian brand.
Brand Philosophy
"Good design shouldn't exclude anyone" - Alexa Jovanovic, Founder of Aille Design.
Our designs are inclusive, fully legible for Braille readers, destigmatize disability and educate about the importance of inclusive representation in the fashion industry. We work alongside a diverse team of fashion lovers from blind, visually impaired and sighted communities.
Together, we create fashion-forward products that empower and celebrate inclusivity. The intricate beading describes clothing characteristics, such as colour, textiles, wash instructions, and fit.
Background
Our founder, Alexa Jovanovic, began her research on Braille and inclusive fashion while studying at Ryerson University. She worked closely with Dr. Ben Barry, Associate Professor of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion at the School of Fashion at Ryerson University to develop her findings and build the Aille Design brand. Her background in fashion communication taught her the importance of disrupting fashion industry norms through innovative design thinking and the co-design process.
While shopping, Alexa noticed a beaded jacket and immediately made the connection between the similarity in size of small beads and Braille dots. She questioned why the beading didn't provide both aesthetic and functional value and began working with a local group of visually impaired individuals to learn more about their experiences with fashion.
Fashion Photography
The fashion photography on our website is produced in collaboration with the following teams:
Stilletos with a white cane | Rumson, New Jersey
Photographer: Julia Wagner, Feather and Root
Model: Catherine Harison, Grogan Management
Stylist: Kassandra Hazlehurst
Stopping traffic in Manhattan | SoHo, New York
Photographer: Monica Slattery
Model: Nsama Nkolonganya
Stylist and Model: Kassandra Hazlehurst
Website Accessibility
To ensure the accessibility of our website, Aille Design partnered with Sarina Cormier and Natalie Minnema from Two Canes Consulting