Leather Mama

It’s not like we look forward to a changing of the leaves as fall descends in Los Angeles. I mean, our foliage consists of palm trees and birds of paradise. Yet, the air has the albeit slight chill I’ve come to recognize as the changing of the seasons. Which means one thing. I need a new fall coat. I’ve been lusting after a new leather jacket but shying away from the must-have cropped moto seen across the shoulders of LA’s fashionatti in search of something more unique. But so far, the search has left me empty-handed (and a bit cold to tell you the truth).

Luckily, on a recent trip down Abbott Kinney, I happened upon illia, a Spartan boutique boasting the freshest leather gear I’ve come across in a long time. I’m talking butter-soft skins in a range of washes and treatments, crafted in avant-garde-lite designs (read: modern-yet-wearable).

Leather is the focus of the line but the collection is rounded out with ready-to-wear, fabricated with South African designer John Murrough’s easy, breezy, beautiful left coast aesthetic. Dye-jobs are an additional strong point of the line, often shown in boho tie-dyes and ombres.

Turns out I’m not the only illia fan. What began as a pop-up shop extended due to client demand. And extended. And extended. And extended. Until the illia had permanently taken over the joint.

As for me, I’m happy to say that my hunt for the perfect leather coat has ended happily. Score!

illia, 1638 Abbot Kinney Blvd., Venice, CA 90291, 310.450.2890

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