Since 2026
ABOUT
A premium clothing label rooted in East African heritage and made for a global wardrobe.
Built on culture. Engineered for longevity.
ILAYS means light. We started with one idea: that clothing carrying our heritage should feel as considered as anything on a luxury rail — the weight, the drape, the finish.
We design in small runs, print in-house, and test every garment through a full season before it ever reaches the shop. Nothing is repeated just to fill a calendar.
What began as a few hoodies among friends is now worn in 34 countries. The mission has not changed: wear your heritage, and wear it well.
01
Heritage first
Every print starts in an archive — a photograph, a proverb, a street name we grew up hearing.
02
Built to last
380 GSM cotton, reinforced seams, garment-dyed finishes. Pieces meant for a decade, not a season.
03
Made responsibly
Small-batch production with partners we visit, in workshops that pay fairly.
The journey
2024
ILAYS founded. First 200 hoodies sell out in eleven days.
2025
Mogadishu and Jigjiga collections launch. Shipping to 34 countries.
2026
Hooyo iyo Aabo released. Studio opens, ilays.net becomes home base.
