ILONA was founded by Ilona Perla Marie-Claire Slama in Paris, September 2022 on a whim. Raised in Los Angeles after being born in Paris, Ilona later moved to Berlin to study neuropsychology. It was there that she made her first dress as a Christmas gift for her ex-girlfriend. The dress quickly garnered attention, so she dropped out of school and started her label.
Ilona is now based in Paris where she runs the brand full time. ILONA is synonymous with individuality, exclusivity, meticulous attention to detail, and high-quality garments produced in small quantities. Ilona wants the wearer to feel unbridled, deranged and somewhat aggressive.
PSYCHOSIS, Ilona’s second collection, is a deeply personal and autobiographical exploration of mental health, inspired by her own experiences during a psychiatric hospital stay as a teenager. The collection tells the story of being used, abused and manipulated to the brink of insanity.
PSYCHOSIS is about being trapped into your own mind. Sedated to stay alive. In absolute hell with no way out.
Predominantly featuring white and pastel colours, the collection is marked by staining and distressing to represent the pain and suffering associated with mental illness; simultaneously has glitter and crystals to highlight the fact that, although they can use and abuse you, take away everything from you, they can’t take away your sparkle.
The collection incorporates a wide range of fabrics—from delicate tulle and silk to strong lambskin—mirroring the fragility and strength of various mental states. A lamb graphic is used throughout, representing youth and innocence, set in stark contrast to the word “psychosis”.
