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Visser was born and raised in IJsselstein, the Netherlands. In 2001 she graduated in Fashion Design from the ArtEZ Institute of the Arts in Arnhem. Following her studies, she gain work experience while working with Donna Karan and Maria Cornejo in New York.

 She launched her namesake couture label ‘ILJA’ in 2005. Following the success of her couture collection, she launched the prêt-à-porter line ‘Ready to Fish’ in 2007. Three years later Visser founded her own fashion house under the name Ilja Visser Group, located on the Prinsengracht in Amsterdam. In 2010 she opened the doors of her shop with the collection ‘Ready to Fish’.

 ‘Ready to Fish’ was well received both in the Netherlands and abroad; the collection was sold in Belgium, Germany, Turkey, Spain, Italy, Denmark, England, Switzerland, Austria, Azia and the   United States.

 In 2011 Visser was the first Dutch designer to receive the prestigious Cultuur Mode Stipendium Award from the Prins Bernhard Cultuurfonds (Prince Bernhard Cultural Foundation) for her innovation and talent. The Cultuurfonds Mode Stipendium was a prize of €50,000

 In the same year, she presented her work at the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam. Architect Pierre Cuypers, who designed the museum at the end of the 19th century, inspired Visser. The show was presented in the Eregalerij in the museum.

 Numerous celebrities have worn Visser’s designs. American singer Alicia Keys wore shoes from the ‘ILJA’ collection and in December of that year American singer Avril Lavigne was spotted wearing a couture dress from the ‘Skinfonie’ collection. American reality star Kourtney Kardashian wore a dress from the ‘Ready to Fish’ collection. Lady Gaga wore several outfits from the “ILJA” collection as well.

 She first presented her work in Paris in 2013, with an exhibition at Galeries Lafayette Haussmann. From 21 July to 30 August 2013 her couture line was shown on the first floor of the department store. In 2014 Visser organised a show in the gardens of the Residence of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Paris. 

 In February 2015 Visser showed the ‘Ready to Fish’ collection at the Lincoln Center in New York during New York Fashion Week.

 In April 2015 Visser was admitted to the French trade association of high fashion, the Chambre Syndicale de la Haute Couture, which was decided by the CEOs of al established fashion houses, and she became officially part of the Paris Haute Couture Week.

In 2022, after moving abroad to U.A.E Ilja launched her first NFT collection in 2022. 50 unique abayas, that represent a landmark moment in digital-exclusive couture for Arab fashion. The unique abaya NFT is traceable, tradeable, wearable, and a collectible piece of modest digital fashion. She is investigating new ideas for the Metaverse with several partners.