Hi! I’m Ilva

The idea to start my own clothing line was born while exploring ways to connect with my daughter on a more creative level. I see clothing as a way to express a mood, a point of view, self-acceptance. Even love.

My daughter was a few days old when I knew that the six-week maternity leave granted to new mothers in the U.S. was not going to work for me. I did give it a try, just to find myself three years later quitting my job declaring that decent maternity leave. I picked up a few freelance jobs and got down to work: could I bring this business idea to life? Could I step into this new field of work? How much could I teach myself? If I stayed up an extra hour every night, could I figure out how to lower an armhole?

Women in my family have had a special love for the craft of dressmaking across generations. It was my mother who instilled in me the love for high quality fabrics, intricate details and the steam a hot iron produces when sliding over freshly washed cotton. She raised her two children in Post-Soviet Latvia in which there was a lot of scarcity when it came to clothing. But not in our house. Many mornings in our house started with linden flower tea and a new outfit my mother had made while I slept. 

There is just something so powerful about this particular childhood memory. It might be the reason I'm embarking on this journey.

I always knew that if I was going to start my own business, it had to be one that provided a platform for me to think, question, grow, and make a change – as small or as big as I possibly can. The values I L V A is being built upon range from such self-explanatory concepts as ethically made clothing and fair pay to broader and more philosophical ones such as curiosity, empathy, kindness and respect. At the moment, I L V A is me and a few other people that are helping me build a brand.

My daughter just turned five and I am launching a mini bamboo collection – three styles in three colors. The time spent setting the foundation for this business has, in a way, felt like reconnecting to who I am, but it has also been a test in resistance, dedication and love. I believe that you can be small, but you need to know what you stand for. And you always need to keep going, no matter what!