Lila's History.
Our Story LILA 💜
My name is Samir Chahal, and I was born and raised on the beautiful island of Curaçao.
Ever since I was a kid, I knew I wasn’t meant to spend my life in an office wearing a suit and tie. I always dreamed of creating something meaningful something that could touch people’s lives.
That dream became LILA, a clothing brand with a purpose.
The name Lila means purple in Papiamentu, and for me, it represents strength, hope, and awareness.
My mission is simple but powerful: to shine a light on mental health especially men’s mental health and raise awareness about suicide prevention.
Why LILA Exists
This brand is deeply deeply personal.
A close friend of mine passed away due to suicide. Like many others, I’ve also faced my own battles with mental health struggling with dark thoughts, loneliness, and the feeling that there’s no one to turn to.
I know what it’s like to feel alone. That’s why LILA is more than clothing it’s a platform for connection, safety, and being heard. I want to build a space where people feel seen, appreciated, and understood.
How It Started
After naming my brand LILA, I began brainstorming slogans. One of my first ideas was:
Lila Head In Da Clouds.
In January, while working on a design in memory of my friend, I was watching a YouTube video. Someone said the phrase “Save Yourself”, and instantly a saying in Papiamentu came to mind:
“Bo tin ku salba bo mes bida, pasombra niun hende no tei salba bo bida pa bo.”
(You have to save your own life, because no one else will save it for you.)
That phrase became the heart of my first official T-shirt design.
The Birth of SYL
A month later, a friend sent me a picture of a T-shirt with my slogan Head in the Clouds, word for word.
I went back to my iPad to brainstorm a new slogan. That’s when I saw my earlier design with the “Save Yourself” message, and it felt like a puzzle piece clicked into place.
From that moment, SYL (Save Your Life) became my new slogan.
What SYL Stands For
At the end of the day, we all have our struggles. Everyone is fighting battles that others can’t see.
You can’t always rely on someone else to save you, you have to save yourself.
SYL is a reminder to take care of yourself first, because your life is worth saving.
The No Luve Chained T-shirt
Not every design I make is for the world, some are for me.
The No Luve Chained T-shirt is one of those.
The phrase No Luve is my way of explaining and expressing how I feel.
When I first shared the design, both my uncle and my cousin asked:
“Why the phrase No Luve? Isn’t your brand supposed to promote love?”
My answer was simple: Yes. LILA promotes love, but this shirt isn’t about the message I want to give others it’s about the truth I carry inside.
How can I give love if I’ve never been given love?
How can I teach love if no one ever taught me how to love myself or how to love others?
The No Luve design is a piece of my story. It’s raw, honest, and real because mental health isn’t always about bright colors and positive quotes. Sometimes it’s about showing the pain, too.
LILA is not just a fashion label.
It’s a movement. A conversation starter. A way to wear your heart on your sleeve while supporting mental health awareness.
💜 When you wear LILA, you’re not just wearing clothes—you’re wearing a message that could save a life.