| Brand: | Atala |
| Founder: | Akila |
| Established: | 2022 |
| Hometown: | Melbourne, Australia |
| Website: | www.AtalaClothing.com |
About Atala
Atala is a Melbourne-based streetwear brand, and the brainchild of visionary founder Akila. The name Atala comes from a specie of butterfly, native to Florida and certain Caribbean islands. It symbolises the journey a caterpillar must forgo to become a butterfly, and stands for metamorphosing beyond social norms and pre-made labels.
Inspiration for this concept stems from Akila's personal experiences and observations as a Sri Lankan who migrated to Australia. He felt that his South Asian heritage was tied to preconceptions that often did not reflect his personal interests, such as his affinity for streetwear and hip hop culture.
Akila started working on Atala during the COVID-19 lockdown, treating the project as an outlet for self-expression, as well as an opportunity to take the narrative regarding South Asians out of the hands of Hollywood and mainstream media.
