How Lisa Carrol Turned LIVLY into a Game-Changer in Baby Apparel.
When Lisa Carrol launched LIVLY, she wasn’t just building a business – she was solving a problem. As a new mom, she watched her twin girls, Liv and Lilly, suffer from sensitive skin. Knowing that babies’ skin is up to 10 times more delicate than adults’, Lisa was driven to find a solution. “Seeing my girls in pain lit a fire in me,” she shares. “I knew I had to create something better for them.”
Lisa’s drive to find a solution for her children stemmed from her own childhood battles with sensitive skin and eczema. Raised in two contrasting climates—Sweden’s cold winters and Jamaica’s humid heat—her skin was often irritated. These challenges shaped the philosophy behind LIVLY’s premium baby apparel, which focuses on comfort, softness, and care.
Determined to find a solution, Lisa embarked on a mission to create the softest clothing for babies and founded LIVLY. Pima cotton became the brand’s foundation after a doctor suggested it for her daughters. Its smooth, long fibers provided comfort for their sensitive skin like no other fabric. This discovery became the heart of LIVLY’s product line. “I wanted other parents to experience the same peace of mind, knowing they were dressing their children in the softest, gentlest fabrics,” Lisa explains.
The inspiration behind LIVLY goes beyond fabric choices. Lisa’s childhood struggles with feeling out of place in Sweden shaped the brand’s aesthetic. The playful prints and LIVLY’s signature sleeping cutie logo reflect her personal escape into dreaming—a way to cope with feeling different. “I want every child to feel accepted and loved,” Lisa shares. “At LIVLY, our designs are meant to instill a sense of worth and comfort.”
When Lisa launched LIVLY in Sweden, she saw a clear gap in the children’s clothing market. Parents had to choose between poor quality or paying high prices for luxury brands. Lisa’s vision was to create a middle ground: high-quality, soft, and stylish designs at a price accessible to more families.
“Our goal was to offer unmatched softness and comfort without sacrificing style or breaking the bank,” she says. LIVLY’s products are built on carefully chosen materials like Pima cotton from Peru’s northern valley, bamboo, and even cashmere, all selected to provide ultimate comfort for children.
From the start, LIVLY’s ethos has been about giving every child the luxury of soft, high-quality clothing without the steep price tag. This focus on detail and affordability has earned LIVLY a loyal customer base, with parents trusting the brand to provide the best for their children.
Scaling LIVLY from an idea to an international brand was no easy feat. Lisa admits that the biggest challenge was figuring everything out along the way. “In the beginning, I wore many hats—I was the designer, sales manager, and even CFO,” she recalls. “Balancing all those roles while growing the brand internationally was tough, but it taught me the value of adaptability and perseverance.”
One pivotal moment that boosted Lisa’s confidence in LIVLY’s success was spotting Sarah Jessica Parker, one of her idols, walking down Madison Avenue with her twin daughters dressed head to toe in LIVLY. “That moment felt surreal,” Lisa says. Shortly after, LIVLY was picked up by major retailers like Barneys and Bloomingdale’s, and online orders surged.
Despite the success, Lisa stays focused on the mission that started it all: providing the softest, most comfortable clothing for babies. “The most rewarding part of LIVLY’s journey is knowing that our values resonate with parents and that they trust us to give their babies the gentlest start,” she shares.
Although Lisa’s daughters, Liv and Lilly, are now 16, they continue to be her biggest inspirations. “We often talk about the importance of being comfortable in your own skin, which can be challenging as teenagers,” she says. Their experiences remind Lisa of the core values LIVLY represents—comfort, confidence, and belonging. These values guide the brand in meaningful ways, ensuring LIVLY remains a brand that resonates with both parents and children.
As a successful founder, Lisa offers invaluable advice for women entering the luxury fashion industry. “Make sure you truly love what you’re doing—especially on the days when it feels like everything is falling apart,” she says. “Challenges will come, and when they do, you need to be your own biggest source of strength.”
For Lisa, resilience has been the key to her success. Drawing from her background as a former basketball player, she emphasizes the importance of pushing through tough times and learning from mistakes. “It’s not just about surviving setbacks; it’s about using them as fuel to propel you forward.”
Lisa’s journey is a powerful reminder of the importance of perseverance, passion, and a steadfast commitment to quality. Through LIVLY, she has created more than just a luxury children’s clothing brand—she’s built a world where every child can feel safe, accepted, and loved.
