Vijay Wadhavan is the founder and creative director of ILA, a queer South Asian fashion brand. ILA was born out of Vijay’s desire to fully embrace both his queerness and his South Asian identity and to do so in a way that felt beautiful, authentic, and expansive. Fashion has always been more than just clothing for him. To him, it’s wearable art. A way to express complexity, challenge norms, and create space for joy. It has served as a personal tool for reflection, self-discovery, and connection, helping him make sense of who he is and how he moves through the world.
This conversation highlights the birth of ILA and Wadhavan's intension to design clothes that celebrates duality, intersectionality, and unapologetic self-expression. Through his designs, Vijay explores themes of fluidity, spectrum, and self-love—inviting others to wear his pieces in ways that reflect both who they are and who they’re becoming, and to show up fully in their truth. Wadhavan further intends to use fashion to break down barriers and be a brand that stands on inclusivity.
Follow me on Instagram
