Meet Kinnari McDevitt, the founder of Lali, a children's brand rooted in heritage textiles, thoughtful design, and pieces made to be worn, loved, and passed down.
At Danrie, we are always drawn to brands that feel both special and wearable, and Lali is exactly that. Founded by Kinnari McDevitt, the collection blends heritage craftsmanship with timeless silhouettes designed for everyday childhood. We spoke with Kinnari about her inspiration, design philosophy, and the story behind Lali.
1. Can you introduce yourself and share the story behind Lali? What inspired you to start the brand?
Hello, my name is Kinnari, and I’m the founder of Lali. At its heart, the brand is a reflection of the world I grew up in—and the one I wanted to recreate for my own children.
I was raised in India, surrounded by color, craftsmanship, and a deep appreciation for textiles. Some of my earliest memories are of soft cotton dresses, hand-embroidered by my mom and grandmother—pieces that felt both beautiful and lived-in.
My background is actually in engineering, and I spent 12 years working in a corporate environment delivering military aircraft. While I valued the technical side of that work, it wasn’t creatively fulfilling. After my oldest was born, I stepped away and returned to something that had always been meaningful to me—fabrics.
As a mother, I found myself searching for clothing that felt timeless, thoughtful, and rooted in meaning. I couldn’t quite find it, and that’s really where Lali began.
2. Lali means “little darling” in Hindi. Can you share the story behind the name?
“Lali” is a term of endearment my grandmother used for me—it means “little darling” in Hindi. It’s a word that carries a lot of nostalgia and brings me back to the simplicity and sweetness of my childhood.
It felt like the perfect name—easy, familiar, and deeply personal.
3. How would you describe your design philosophy?
Growing up in India in the ’90s, I had a very different relationship with clothing. I was raised with the philosophy that fashion should serve you—not the other way around.
I would go to fabric markets with my mom and work with a local tailor to create pieces. Hemlines were made longer so they could grow with me, and fabrics were chosen with intention—based on comfort, function, and climate. I didn’t have a large wardrobe, but everything I owned felt meaningful.
That experience shapes how I design for Lali. I focus on creating pieces that feel timeless yet playful—special, but meant to be worn every day. There’s an emphasis on natural fabrics, comfort, and thoughtful details.
At its core, it’s about clothing that children can truly live in.
4. Can you tell us more about your fabric development process?
Our textiles are at the heart of Lali.
Fabrics have always been a big part of my life—I inherited that from my mom. Even before starting the brand, I was collecting textiles on my travels and having pieces made for myself and my nieces. I’ve always been drawn to how fabric holds history.
Each collection begins with a story. I hand-draw all of our motifs and work closely with our weavers to develop custom textiles, often starting on desk looms and drawing from Indian heritage fabrics like woven saris and everyday textiles.
It’s about honoring those traditions while creating something that feels relevant today—pieces that are nostalgic, but still fresh and wearable.
5. How do your childhood memories influence your collections today?
A friend once told me that my childhood memories feel almost idyllic—that they feel universal. That really stayed with me.
I think we all carry some version of those slower, simpler moments, and we want that for our children too. Even with screens and iPads today, us moms still want our kids to play freely, be outside, use their imagination, and connect with the people around them.
I often return to sensory and core memories—the colors of markets, playing outside with my cousins, and long summer days at my grandparents’ farm where time felt endless. Those impressions naturally find their way into how I think about color, fabric, and mood in each collection.
I’m not trying to recreate those moments exactly, but to capture their essence—the softness, the ease, the quiet beauty—and bring that feeling into something that feels relevant today.
6. Why is ethical production important to you?
From the beginning, it was important to build Lali with intention—not just in design, but in how it’s made.
The garment industry has had a significant impact on both the environment and communities, and often that cost is carried by countries like India. Being from India, that feels very personal to me.
Working with artisan partners and Fair-Trade Certified manufacturers allows us to support craftsmanship while ensuring ethical working conditions. When I visit our partners, I see people who look and feel like family—and it's important that they are treated that way.
It also slows the process down, which I see as a positive. We’re not creating for speed—we’re creating thoughtfully, with a focus on longevity.
7. How has being a mother influenced your designs?
Becoming a mother has really changed how I think about design. I used to love decorative details like tassels, but they weren’t always practical. Now, I’m drawn to pieces that feel elevated but effortless.
Children don’t experience clothing as something precious—they live in it. They climb, spill, nap, and explore, and I design with that in mind.
Comfort is essential, but so is emotional connection. I want pieces to feel special without being restrictive—something a child reaches for naturally, and a parent holds onto long after.
8. What makes a Lali piece instantly recognizable?
It’s really a combination of subtle elements. At its core, Lali is a color-driven brand. Growing up between India, where color is embraced freely, and the U.S., where there’s more restraint, has shaped how I approach it.
I’m drawn to unexpected palettes, and we build each collection from there—developing our own fabrics and finishing pieces with custom embroidery and thoughtful details.
Our prints are soft, the silhouettes are easy, and everything is designed to be worn.
There’s a certain feeling to a Lali piece—thoughtful, a little nostalgic, and quietly special—and it’s that balance of color, craftsmanship, and ease that makes it recognizable.
Discover Lali at Danrie and explore timeless pieces designed for everyday childhood. Shop the collection here.
