Our Story
Designed in Ireland. Handcrafted in India. Made to wander.
The name - ALĒO
ALĒO takes its name from a small village in the Himalayas, where our son was born.
We remember the mountain air, the snow on the peaks and a sense of wonder that has stayed with us ever since. When it came to naming what we were building, there was only one place to begin.
Australia
Where we took the leap and began building something of our own.
India
Where leather craftsmanship shaped what ALĒO has become.
Ireland
Where we design every piece in Wexford, and where we’re proud to be part of Ireland’s design community.
Founded in 2023 by Tara & Jonathan Jordan, ALĒO grew from a meeting of two worlds. Jonathan brought connections to the European fashion industry, while Tara brought connections to India's leather-craft industry. Having left our full-time jobs in Sydney, we saw an opportunity to bring these worlds together.
Our ambition was to bring the skill and generational knowledge of Indian artisans to the forefront of contemporary European fashion, through pieces that feel individual, considered and made to last.
Today, that connection remains at the heart of everything we do.
Made by hand. Made with intention.
Every ALĒO piece begins with an idea - brought to life through a collaboration between our design process in Ireland and the skilled artisans we work with in India. Together, we explore the possibilities of leather, weaving and form to create pieces that are beautiful, practical and made to last.
Woven by hand
Our woven designs use a hand-lacing and interlacing technique, with each piece fully handwoven over a mould to create its distinctive shape, texture and structure.
We work with skilled artisans across two craft hubs along India’s eastern coast. Our relationships with them began before ALĒO launched and remain at the heart of our craft.
Leather, carefully chosen
Leather is central to what we do. We work with vegetable-tanned buffalo leather, alongside grained and smooth calf leather, selected for the character, texture and finish each design calls for.
Our calf leather comes from a single tannery, allowing us to trace its origins. We also use vegetable-tanned buffalo leather, although our visibility into its wider supply chain is more limited. We believe in being transparent about the materials we use and continuing to deepen our understanding of where they come from.
We value leather for the way it develops character with use, softening and changing over time.
Made in small runs
We produce in small runs rather than mass quantities, allowing us to focus on the details of each design. We also reuse leather offcuts wherever possible, making better use of the material.
For us, making responsibly means considering the choices behind each piece: the materials, the people who make it and the life it will have beyond the workshop. See how every piece is made.
Made to be kept
Good leather gets better with care. A few simple habits will keep your piece looking its best for years.
- Store it in a breathable cotton bag, away from direct sunlight, lightly stuffed to hold its shape.
- Wipe it with a soft, dry cloth. Avoid soaking it, and keep it away from harsh cleaners.
- Expect vegetable-tanned buffalo to darken and soften with use. That patina is part of its character.
Two perspectives. One shared vision.
Tara Jordan
Co-founder & Director
"For me, the beauty lies in the craft itself. I want to keep these generational skills alive, while allowing the leather to speak for itself. I'm drawn to simple forms, where the material, texture and handwork become the focus."
Jonathan Jordan
Co-founder & Director
"ALĒO is about bringing our worlds together to create something distinctive - a global brand with a considered place in Ireland's fashion scene. As we grow, it's important to remain humble, stay true to our thinking and never lose sight of why we started."
As seen in
ALĒO has been featured in publications including Harper's Bazaar, Vanity Fair, Marie Claire,Vogue and Tatler.
We are also proud to be part of Ireland's design community through our memberships of the Council of Irish Fashion Designers and the Design & Crafts Council of Ireland.