Lilabare

Lilabare works at the intersection of land, material, and making. Founded in Nairobi in 2017 by Ria Ana Sejpal-Sullivan, the Kenyan label approaches clothing as part of a wider ecosystem—one that begins with raw, naturally derived inputs and extends through to the hands that shape them.

Textiles are developed from unconventional sources, including agricultural by-products such as pineapple leaves, coffee grounds, and botanicals grown locally. These materials are spun, dyed, and constructed in collaboration with artisans, resulting in garments where process remains visible. Alongside this, the studio engages ancestral techniques across East Africa and India, reworking them through experimentation and small-batch production.

This material-led approach is grounded in a broader philosophy of regeneration and continuity. Lilabare’s pieces are designed to evolve with time—garments that hold the imprint of their origin, while proposing new possibilities for how clothing can be made, worn, and valued.