Our Story
Lamees Alshawkani’s journey to creating Sailaal began with a simple realization: we’re mindful of what we eat and apply to 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 that chemicals in clothing can negatively impact health, Lamees's 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.
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.
Sailaal's roots are 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 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 her designs, often blending the flowing elegance of Middle Eastern silhouettes with contemporary Western cutouts, honoring her heritage while empowering authentic, liberated expression.
Lamees concurrently works as a full-time optometrist based in New York City’s SoHo neighborhood, where she constantly draws inspiration from her fashion-forward patients.
