Who we are
Mona & Louise is a slow and fair fashion brand who makes clothes you love to wear.
More than that, Mona & Louise makes clothes that are sustainable. We use only natural fabrics and natural dyes. Cotton is dyed, woven and stitched by hand using traditional craft techniques by one of the few remaining hand loom weavers in Sri Lanka.
Our working practises are also sustainable. All employees are paid a fair wage, and receive additional support in their local community. Mona & Louise also supports charities in Sri Lanka that focus on empowering women.
The founder
Ilse has a degree in clinical psychology and an MBA. She has worked for many years in the pharmaceuticals industry. Her focus has always been on women and women’s health, and she has coordinated programs that have helped millions of women across Africa take back control over their own lives.
Since 2019 she has been working in the non-profit sector. Following roles in Senegal with the UNFPA and working for a Swiss NGO improving public health services for mothers and children, Ilse is now focussed on building Mona & Louise, a fashion business and social enterprise improving the lives of women in Sri Lanka. Ilse’s first experience of Sri Lanka was 10 years ago when she visited with her family and witnessed at first hand the colours of the island and the warmth of the people.
Mona & Louise (incidentally the names of her two cats) marries her focus on sustainable development that improves the lives of women, with her other love; fashion. She recently qualified as a professional seamstress, and delights in helping local seamstresses learn new techniques that improve the quality of the clothes they produce, making them more desirable and durable.
Sooriya Weaving Mills
The Sooriya Weaving story began in 1976 with co-founders, Mr. & Mrs. Sooriyaarachchi. The first part of their surname, “Sooriya”, is the Sinhalese term for “Sun”. In the same way that the sun provides energy for the world, Sooriya Weaving Mill was established with the intention of revitalising the traditional Sri Lankan handloom industry. It is a family owned and operated company, now managed by Mrs. Sooriyaarchchi & her son Chandana Sooriyayachchi.
Altogether Sooriya Weaving employs more than 40 women, all from the surrounding area. Some of them have been working more than 40 years with Sooriya Weaving and this is their lifetime job.
Sooriya creates job opportunities especially for older and disabled women, many of whom don’t have any alternative income. They support them through personal and professional mentoring, as well as giving them a source of income and the opportunity to save. Through this comes self-esteem and confidence, boosting their independence and decision-making ability, and enabling them to grow as individuals.
Supporting local tradecrafts
At Mona & Louise, we are committed to building strong relationships and adding value to the work of local artisans.
In addition to our collaboration with Sooriya Weaving Mills, each of our garments is meticulously handcrafted by skilled local seamstresses whom we have supported and trained to achieve the highest standards of craftsmanship.
We also partner with talented artisans to create bespoke buttons, belt buckles, and accessories that beautifully complement our timeless, sustainable fashion.
Partnering with the local community
Mona & Louise is a sponsor of “Project Hope” (run by the Rosie-May foundation in Hikkaduwa, Sri Lanka).
“Project Hope” supports vulnerable families, helping single parent mothers to maintain a loving family environment. “Project Hope” offers a hand up, rather than a hand out, by improving a family’s life chances and importantly, those of their children.
Mona & Louise plans to donate an overlock machine to allow “Project Hope” to extend the skills training they offer to single parent mothers, helping these women to become skilled seamstresses and to start their own businesses.
Maybe one day the Mona & Louise clothes you wear will be made by some of these women!
