The Night Iloná Took Over Milan
Iloná, the seasonless brand founded by entrepreneur and creative director Nolwazi Buthelezi, made its debut in the setting of a historic Milanese building. Amidst stucco, marble, garlands of roses, flowing dresses, bags, and pumps displayed in transparent showcases like precious accessories, Iloná’s first event in Milan welcomed guests with a vibrant and international atmosphere. Nolwazi Buthelezi’s creations attracted socialites, cool crowds, and creatives from the worlds of fashion, art, and nightlife, forming a connected and fluid community.
“Milan is the beating heart of fashion. It was important for Iloná to be born in a place where the tradition of making meets the innovation of thinking,” explained the founder, who has combined the ancestral identity of South Africa, where she was born, and the precision of Italian tailoring into the soul of the brand. Everything is Made in Italy: from the fabrics to the pattern making to the actual manufacturing. Nolwazi Buthelezi’s goal is therefore to convey the idea of African luxury, demonstrating that it is a voice to be heard: “I want the world to see what can come from our continent. We don’t just buy beauty, we create it,” emphasizes the founder.
Guests were able to experience this philosophy firsthand through impeccable blazers, high-necked down jackets, evening dresses with mermaid skirts and flounces or belts at the waist and pleats: designs that enhance the softness of the fabrics, caressing the body without ever constricting it. The attention to materials continued in the accessories, translating into fine leather, metal, and careful finishes. Among the most recognizable silhouettes was undoubtedly that of the Scorpion Heel shoes, inspired by the founder’s zodiac sign. An emblem of rebirth and determination, this symbol translates into a sculptural detail on the heel, a golden scorpion that embraces its shape. Pumps, belts, and bags also feature on the celebratory cake that concluded the evening, inaugurating Iloná’s future in international fashion.
Text: Anna Zucca
Photos: Ludovica Arcero
