The story behind Milana

I started Mila & Co. because I cared about making better clothing for kids, and I thought I already had it right. Then the tariffs hit, and I needed a new manufacturer fast. Finding one took me to a trade show, which is where I first learned about vertically integrated partners. Instead of fabric being knit in one place, dyed in another, and sewn somewhere else entirely, every step happens under one roof. For the first time, I could trace everything myself, from the fibre to the finished piece, and ask real questions about how it was made. That changed everything. It meant I could finally make sustainability claims I actually stood behind, with certifications I could check and paperwork to prove it. Milana Label isn't a rebrand, it's a complete rethink.

A few years in, I found out I'm neurodivergent, and suddenly a lot of things made sense. Like why softness was always the first thing I checked, and why I have a pile of rejected fabrics and only a handful I've ever said yes to. It also explained why I'll buy the same shirt in the same colour three times and wear them to the very end. A new piece has to feel perfect, or it never gets worn, and dressing up for a holiday party still feels uncomfortable. Some kids feel this way too. They find the outfit that feels right and want to live in it, and a change of season can turn into a hard morning. That's why Milana is seasonless. The pieces that feel right stay in the collection, work all year, and get worn more and replaced less.

Every Milana piece begins with fabric. Our signature fabric blends TENCEL™ Lyocell with a touch of elastane: smooth, breathable, and made from fibre verified through Lenzing. Our organic cotton styles are GOTS certified and come in rib and french terry, with fabrics wash-tested for shrinkage and colourfastness. Both were chosen for how they feel against sensitive skin, and how they feel after washing, not just on the shelf.

We work with vertically integrated manufacturing partners, where knitting, dyeing, cutting, sewing, finishing, and packing all happen within one system, and every partner signs our supplier code of conduct. But transparency without traceability is not enough. As a member of 1% for the Planet, we give 1% of our annual sales to environmental partners, including EcoSchools Canada. The full story of our supply chain lives on its own page, because it deserves more than a summary.