Founder of the brand ILA, which is based on seven prints representing the “Souls of the Tropics.” Her creativity has led her to design garments that exude a unique, feminine, and ethereal essence that every woman can relate to.
Known as Tere and at 25 years of age, she describes herself as a dreamer—an attribute that led her to become the founder of ILA. Her determination to pursue her goals drove her to graduate with a degree in Business Administration, Marketing, and Communications from The George Washington University in Washington, D.C., USA.
Before bringing ILA to life, Safie had the opportunity to work in Miami, Florida, with global brands such as PepsiCo, Enterprise, and Marriott International at Jeffrey Group, a multinational public relations, strategy, and marketing agency focused on Latin American markets.
Since childhood, Tere has considered herself a dreamer, spontaneous, and observant. “People who know me would say that I am also detail-oriented. I love observing the essence of things, places, and especially people. It inspires me to know that we all have something that makes us unique, something we can share with others. That is why my greatest motivation has been to create something that not only ignites my soul but also the souls of others,” says Safie.
About the ILA Brand
Regarding how the concept of her brand emerged, Safie explains that everything must start with the story of ILA: “the girl from the island or the tropics”, a character born in a natural and completely paradisiacal ecosystem, with the sole purpose of bringing light to her surroundings. “‘ILA’ means light in Sanskrit and is an abbreviation for a soul that illuminates. ILA becomes that dreamer, warm, and naturally sophisticated woman. She is the protagonist of her own story and invites others to be the same,” Safie highlights.
ILA emerged as a small token of love and dedication to the seven women closest to Tere, who have gifted her with precious moments, instilled values, and guided her through different stages of her life.
“These moments and values are what unite us all, and it is through them that I identify myself and decided to share with all our customers, who will wear our garments in their own way and with their natural radiance,” describes Safie.
The first collection consists of seven prints representing the ‘Souls of the Tropics’, named: Aria, Ale, Annie, Dannie, Sof, Luzia, and Sari. Each of these souls carries a unique, feminine, and ethereal essence that every woman can relate to. They convey a powerful message about freedom, self-love, and friendship.
“In addition to connecting with people through these values and powerful messages from woman to woman, I wanted to create a bond with our customers—friend to friend. I want to be that companion who understands, who has been in similar situations, and who knows the great importance of feeling happy, comfortable, and satisfied with oneself. Once we, as women, achieve this, we can project it through our natural glow and become the best versions of ourselves,” Safie asserts.
ILA Products
At ILA, pieces are designed to be worn in different settings, for various occasions, and, most importantly, to allow women to feel confident and comfortable. “Our garments are multifunctional in the sense that they adapt to different body types and styles, whether for day or night. They can be styled in different ways and serve as that one essential piece in your closet that saves the day when you don’t know what to wear,” shares Safie.
Among these garments are the famous ILA Pants, a combination of pants and skirts that are adjustable and extremely comfortable, making them suitable for everyday wear and even special events. ILA also offers personalized customer service by appointment, allowing clients to customize any design with their preferred fabric, print, and fit to ensure the outfit looks as stunning—if not better—than the catalog model.
