WELCOME,

Hi there, my name is Ilona Alyamani, and I’d like to tell you my story. So, without further ado, I’ll get right into it. 

Over time, I have been fortunate enough to turn my passion into my profession. Having always been naturally curious and optimistic by nature, I would continually find myself drawn towards the arts and creativity in all its forms. As such, I jumped into studying painting, fashion design, and costume design, eventually branching into mixed media, photography, and installation art. 

Before long, I found myself in a tricky position that’s familiar to many artists – finding a way to apply my passion to the professional world. I chose to go into advertising, taking on the role of graphic designer and art director. In my day-to-day, I found the creative side of the work inspired me most, fanning the flame that would eventually lead me to take the leap into theatre and costume design. And ever since, I have found endless opportunities, wonder, and above all - purpose. 

Its power to sway an audience or subtly grip a single individual, reminding them that there’s always more to life was intoxicating to me. I felt at home in the chaos and endless diversity that performance and art brought to my life, forever seeking new ways to apply old and new techniques while exploring patterns and creating my own. 

So, the theatre was where I really came to grips with art. Watching its multi-layered narratives unfold before me, I became aware that this is where all art forms meet. The sudden acknowledgment resonated with me on a profound level and hasn’t left me since.

Today, I find myself behind the curtain, honored to help orchestrate the artwork on stage. The entire process absorbs me. Every new script brings me on new creative journeys to fulfilling destinations that I relish exploring. 

To each director, I offer my desire to make their vision a reality. Likewise, I offer the same to actors, rejoicing in seeing them assimilate further into their character with each character-appropriate tweak of design and outfit.

I put my heart and soul into each new garment and artwork, understanding that subtle perfection is the key to compelling visual storytelling. With each new project, my passion for costume and set design only continues to grow.

When theatres closed their doors and the stage went quiet because of the pandemic, I found myself with extra time to take on new creative endeavors and explore interests that had taken a back seat. That’s when I discovered the thrilling territory of surface pattern design. Becoming completely absorbed in this new, compelling creative process, I experimented with various shapes, colors, and aspects. Some of the resulting work has found its way into my portfolio and is a great source of pride for me. What’s more, as the world returned to normal post-pandemic and the curtains were pulled back again, I’ve found it hard to set aside surface pattern design. Instead, its pull pushes me to explore further, expanding my skills while working on new creations. 

Finally, I am a visual storyteller at heart. Every day I’m grateful to have the opportunity to improve, learn, and simply enjoy this amazing environment. I am excited to see what comes next, and when it does come my way, I’ll be sure to grab it with both hands, knowing that every opportunity is a chance to grow, learn, and simply enjoy.

I’d love to hear from you: 

Looking for the right costume or surface pattern designer for your upcoming project?

Don’t hesitate to reach out. Get in touch below, and I’ll get back to you as soon as possible. 

Thank you.