We recently connected with Lila Castle and have shared our conversation below.

Lila, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Let’s start with the story of your mission. What should we know?

Memorial Days was born from a love of family, nostalgia, and the timeless style that defines coastal living. Inspired by the East Coast summers spent on the water, the brand draws on the iconic, well-worn pieces passed down through generations. Proudly designed and manufactured in the USA, our clothing reflects the highest standards of American craftsmanship. The name itself speaks to the magic of Memorial Days Weekend— a time for reflection, gratitude, and the official start of summer. We aim to capture the feeling of those special moments in every garment, blending vintage inspiration with modern craftsmanship to create clothing thats as meaningful as it is beautiful

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

Hi I am Lila, I am from Maryland and grew up on the East Coast. I started a clothing brand at 26 years old. I may not have entered this space with industry experience, but I had a vision, a story, and a purpose. I wanted to create meaningful pieces that are worn during the moments that turn into memories.

The brand was born from nostalgia. I think back to summers spent on the Chesapeake Bay, running around with my cousins after long days on the water, throwing on one of my grandfather’s oversized sweatshirts when the sun went down. Those pieces carried history and warmth, and somehow made even the most ordinary moments feel special. Whenever I wore vintage pieces I found in my parents or grandparents closet, people would stop me to compliment them. They were timeless, comfortable, and full of character.

I began to wonder what pieces from my own closet would one day be the ones that someone else pulled on and thought of as cool, meaningful, and lasting. That thought became the foundation of Memorial Days. Our designs reflect the effortless charm of classic American heritage, vintage sportswear, and well worn heirlooms. They are made to feel like they already have a story, and to only get better with time.

What sets Memorial Days apart is the focus on nostalgia and intention. Our collections are small and thoughtful, tied to memories of summers on the coast, the comfort of borrowed clothing, and the ease of classic American style. I am proud to be building a brand that people can feel connected to, one that reminds them of the best parts of the past while creating pieces they will keep, cherish, and pass down.

Have you ever had to pivot?

One of the biggest pivots I have had to make came earlier this year while preparing a collection that was meant to launch on Memorial Day weekend, which is the namesake of my brand. I had just started working with a new manufacturer and when the first round of samples arrived, they were nothing like what I had envisioned. The quality was not there, the embroidery was sloppy, the fabric felt off, and even the sewing was poorly done.

This was supposed to be one of my most important drops, and I had already invested time and money into the process. I had to make the excruciating decision to walk away from the entire production, knowing it meant losing money and completely reworking my timelines. Instead of compromising, I started from scratch with a new manufacturer and pushed the release of those pieces to September.

At the same time, I had to quickly design and create new items for Memorial Day weekend so that I could still honor that moment for the brand. It was an incredibly stressful experience, but it reinforced one of my core values: I will never sacrifice the quality of my pieces. I want every item to feel timeless and meaningful, and that means standing firm even when it is the harder and more expensive choice.

Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?

A lesson I had to unlearn was the idea that I needed to have everything figured out before starting. For a long time I thought I could not launch a brand until every detail was perfect and every step was mapped out. The truth is, if I had waited for that moment, I would still be waiting.

When I finally took the leap with Memorial Days, I quickly realized that progress comes from taking action and learning along the way. I did not have every answer, but by starting I gave myself the chance to figure things out in real time. I learned to trust the process, make adjustments, and let the brand grow with me.

Unlearning that need for certainty gave me freedom. It allowed me to move forward, make mistakes, and ultimately create something that feels authentic.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.memorialdays.shop/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lilacastle/?hl=en
• Other: Memorial Days instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shopmemorialdays/?hl=en