About Us

ILA is a South Asian-inspired fashion and lifestyle brand rooted in self-expression, fluidity, and cultural pride. While our designs are made for anyone who connects with them, they are created through a lens that centres queer and trans experiences. Born from a passion for design and a desire to create pieces that allow people to show up more fully as themselves, ILA exists at the intersection of heritage and authenticity, tradition and reinvention.

We create for people who want to feel seen in the fullness of who they are. ILA celebrates the beauty of fluidity and the power of taking up space unapologetically. Ours is a world where South Asian culture, queerness, and the many layered identities people carry are in dialogue through rich storytelling, intentional design, and a deep commitment to self-expression.

At the heart of ILA is the belief that style, space, and self-expression can foster affirmation, connection, and belonging. By honouring the textures, colours, silhouettes, and emotional resonance of South Asian traditions and reimagining them through a modern, inclusive lens, ILA creates room for new ways of being, loving, dressing, gathering, and building community. The result is a brand that feels both nostalgic and forward-looking, grounded in heritage while making space for people to be seen, celebrated, and connected.

Why the name ILA?

ILA is inspired by the ancient Hindu myth of Ila, a divine being who fluidly transitions between male and female forms. Ila embodies the harmonious union of masculine and feminine energies, symbolizing transformation, fluidity, and the beauty of embracing one’s true self.

Meet our Founder

Vijay Wadhawan is the founder and Creative Director of ILA. Growing up in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Vijay often felt like he was straddling different parts of his identity, searching for ways to bring them together more fully. That experience shaped not only his perspective, but also the vision behind ILA.

For Vijay, fashion is more than clothing - it is wearable art, a form of storytelling, and a way for people to express themselves more fully. Through ILA, he hopes to create pieces that allow people to show up with confidence, intention, and authenticity, and to embrace all aspects of who they are unapologetically.

Vijay now lives in Toronto with his partner, Jaishal, their dog Kulfi, and cat Billie.