The Story Behind Aina Studios

The sun shimmering across the sea.
A rainbow appearing after a long rainy day.
Baby stems pushing through the soil.
Stars sparkling in the quiet suburban night sky.
Flowers blooming where they are watered.
A fire burning bright and steady.

There is something deeply healing about moments like these.
Each one feels familiar to me, almost as if nature is holding up a mirror and showing me the different parts of who I am.
In many ways, looking at these scenes feels like looking into an aina, a mirror that reflects my many identities.

I have never been someone who fits neatly into one box.
I grew up in Japan while trying to hold my Indian heritage close to my heart.
Expressing myself in a country shaped by homogeneity was not simple.
There were years when I shrank myself.

I was never “Indian enough” in India.
Never “Japanese enough” in Japan.
Living between two cultures made it difficult to claim a single identity, and for a long time, that felt confusing and isolating.

But as I grew older, my idea of identity changed.
I realized I don’t need to choose one version of myself.
I am allowed to be all of them.

And then came New York City.

New York taught me the beauty of individuality.
In a city overflowing with culture, diversity, and difference, I finally understood that uniqueness isn’t something to hide, it’s something to honor.
There is beauty in being different from everyone around you.
There is even more beauty in learning from those differences.

This understanding became the foundation of Aina Studios.
Aina was created from the belief that identity is layered, fluid, evolving, and never something that should be limited or hidden.
Through every collection, I hope to offer others the same sense of recognition and belonging that I found within myself.
I want each piece to feel like a mirror that reflects who they are and who they are becoming.

Each collection was inspired by a part of me, and each collection is meant to awaken a part of you.

Aina reflects my duality.
It holds the boldness and elegance within me, the maximalist and the minimalist, the Indian and the Japanese.
I hope the Aina collection helps others embrace the contradictions within themselves and feel proud of every side they carry.

Akira represents my fire.
It symbolizes my passion for giving back, my commitment to creativity, my desire to stand tall, and my hope to spread positivity.
I hope that anyone who wears Akira feels empowered to express themselves fully and generously.

Araya holds my inner child.
It celebrates the playful part of me that finds beauty in colors, differences, and curiosity.
I hope Araya reminds others to protect their joy, creativity, and sense of wonder.

Hana represents my bloom.
It honors the way I flourish when I am surrounded by people and environments that support my growth and new beginnings.
I hope Hana helps others recognize their own seasons of blooming and the importance of choosing spaces that nourish their growth.

Nami represents my calm.
It reflects my belief in inner peace and my trust in the gentle flow of life.
I hope Nami offers others a moment of grounding and a reminder to move with softness.

Niwa represents my growth.
It symbolizes my dedication to learning, evolving, and rising through challenges.
I hope Niwa inspires others to celebrate their progress and honor the work they put into becoming better versions of themselves.

Sora represents my faith.
It echoes my belief that the universe supports me, inspired by the depth and mystery of the midnight sky.
I hope Sora brings comfort to those who wear it and reminds them that they, too, are guided and held by something greater.

Aina Studios is the home where all these identities come together.
It reminds me that I never needed to be only one thing, and I created it to remind you of the same truth. We are many things at once, and that is the most beautiful part of being human. That is the most beautiful part of being you.