Ali Golden the designer is as straightforward as Ali Golden the line. With a background in graphic design and fine arts, she just sort of fell into the clothing world in 2011, discovering an attraction to flowy fabrics and clean lines. Of course it doesn’t hurt that she is an expert on the sewing machine, still making patterns and sewing her own samples, and is highly involved in every last aspect of her production, a rarity that totally shines through in her simple, thoughtful collection.

Meandering her way up the West Coast, Ali spent her childhood surfing and soaking up SoCal’s carefree vibes and now calls Oakland home. The offbeat neighborhood where her shop-meets-studio is located happens to be one of the coolest scenes in the city, with a vibe speaks to the sort of girl who would be drawn to her pieces. As Ali explains, that’s someone who “wants comfort foremost, but still wants to look good and unique. I like the idea of displaying my style with a lightness and a sense of humor—nothing too serious,” she says. Another key feature of her mostly silk label: “Almost everything is one size fits 0 to 10, so it literally is for everyone. It’s utilitarian and inspired by the notion of a uniform: anonymous with an edge.” —carly pifer

aligolden.com