Lamees Alshawkani’s journey to creating Sailaal began with a simple realization: we’re mindful of what we eat and put on our skin, but true wellness isn’t complete without considering the clothes that drape us daily.

While delving into the world of health optimization in early 2019, she began scrutinizing the ingredients in food, personal care, and household products. With increasing evidence suggesting that chemicals in clothing can negatively impact health, that awareness quickly extended to her wardrobe. While many brands focused on sustainability, few prioritized truly clean garments at the time—and even fewer shared their processes transparently. She wanted to know exactly what touched her skin—and believed her future customers deserved the same clarity.

Fashion had always been a love for Lamees. As a full-time doctor of optometry based in New York City’s SoHo neighborhood, she constantly draws inspiration from her fashion-forward patients. While she initially envisioned developing an eyewear brand during optometry school, her love for clothing and self-expression ultimately led her to apparel. 

Sailaal officially launched in 2023. The name blends two Arabic words—sail, meaning flow, and aal, meaning elevated. This union captures the nature of our textiles and the feeling they evoke: graceful movement, intentional design, and a natural ease that lingers with every wear.

Its roots is also shaped by Lamees' global upbringing. Born in New York City to a Yemeni diplomat, her childhood spanned Yemen, Ethiopia, and Belgium before returning to the United States in her teens. This diverse background instilled in her a profound appreciation for travel, freedom, and a commitment to protecting our remarkable planet, which she upholds through Sailaal’s responsible practices. Her multicultural exposure also influences some of her designs, blending the flowing elegance of Middle Eastern silhouettes with contemporary Western cutouts—honoring her heritage while empowering authentic, liberated expression.