Finding Inspiration With Tommy Bahama Artist Rizu Ito

At Tommy Bahama, the art of island living is something we take seriously. Thanks to our talented team of in-house artists, our vibrant prints and signature seasonal designs are what we’re known for! We sat down with Rizu Ito, an artist and textile designer who’s been creating some of your favorite Tommy Bahama looks for over five years, to get the inside scoop on our iconic island-inspired artistry.

How did you get your start as an artist? Did you always know it was something you wanted to pursue?

Yes, my love for art began at an early age. From junior high through college, I studied watercolor painting, product design, oil painting, art history, and fine art. At Tommy Bahama, I use many different paint mediums, but watercolor has been a personal favorite.

What does a typical workday look like for you?

In the fashion industry, we work in seasons. So, in the beginning of the season, I’m usually working on new projects, and I like to work on multiple at once. Watercolor can be time consuming, so while waiting for the paint to dry, I can start on something else. Later in the season, I focus on revising my designs—sometimes I’ll paint all morning, and then in the afternoon, I’ll digitally tweak layouts and clean up the paintings I did earlier.

How do you approach creating a new print?

We make prints based on the design team’s concepts, so I work closely with them to get it as close to their vision as possible. When I come up with my own concepts, I enjoy experimenting with new techniques. Last season, one of my colleagues held a cyanotype workshop. After that, I started exploring that method and used it to make a new print!

For general, daily inspiration, I find movie sets interesting. I’m often inspired by the colors, costume design, and composition. Recently, one that inspired me was “The Grand Budapest Hotel.”

You were selected to be part of our 2023 Artist Series—that’s so cool! Is there another print you feel especially proud of?

There are a few things I really enjoyed making that come to mind. One of them was a New Year’s panelback design. I wanted to incorporate a disco ball which ended up being harder to draw than I thought. I was so happy to see how the embroidery came out!

There was also a holiday print that I really enjoyed painting, but it took me a long time to come up with the scenes in it. I repainted the Marlin sled scene, but the original concept was from a print my colleague had made a couple years prior.

You also worked on our Spring 2025 Disney | Tommy Bahama print. Can you tell us more about that?

I wanted to show Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse going on adventures and having some fun in the sun. I liked the idea of a more abstract background, so I actually used a chopstick to draw the scenery; it was a technique I learned in school. I sharpened the tip wide and used it like a dip pen. It’s fun to use because it creates unexpected lines while drawing! I also hid a secret Mickey Mouse in the pattern, so I hope people having fun looking for it!

Outside of work, are there other kinds of art you like to create in your free time?

I love making things by hand, and I like art with a purpose. This led me to making somewhat practical things, but that can be hard to categorize as “art” sometimes. These days, a lot of what I create is three-dimensional. Recently I’ve started making lamp shades! I appreciate art that has functionality, and I think clothing, too, strikes that perfect balance.

You can keep up with Rizu’s latest creations and find more of her work on Instagram at @rizuliz. And as always, you can stop by our stores to bring home original Tommy Bahama artwork of your very own!