A minor injury that required surgery on her dominant hand became a turning point for our Founder, Limi Rose Tom. It shattered her long-held notions of independence and dignity. She experienced firsthand how the lack of adaptive clothing solutions drains the time and energy of already overburdened caregivers and renders individuals dependent—even for something as basic as getting dressed, every single day.

This gap in the Indian market inspired her to launch LIYELL, beginning with unisex business casuals designed for ease and accessibility. With a design registration in India, mentorship from IIM Bangalore, and heartfelt feedback from users and caregivers, the brand began to take shape.

In 2024, Kerala State Startup Mission selected LIYELL for its Innovation Grant, enabling the development of new adaptive clothing products. The first product developed through this grant is already in use at one of the leading cardiac surgery units in Asia.

Limi was also awarded the Inclusion Fellowship 2023 at the India Inclusion Summit, in recognition of her work in creating inclusive solutions through her startup.