LAUNE x NEENDI
Meet Lizzy, the founder of NEENDI — a sleepwear brand built on the belief that rest should feel joyful, expressive, and anything but boring. After a decade working in corporate retail, Lizzy set out to create what she couldn’t find: pajamas that feel playful, colorful, and intentional, without sacrificing comfort. Inspired by personal rituals, family history, and the quiet magic of bedtime, NEENDI brings optimism and personality into everyday moments. Below, Lizzy shares the story behind the brand, her creative process, and why fun pajamas are never just about sleep.
1. Tell me about yourself and NEENDI. How was it created?
I’m Lizzy — a classic eldest daughter, a Gemini, a lover of reality TV, and a very serious advocate for bedtime. I spent about ten years working in corporate retail in San Francisco, primarily in merchandising, across both a global big-box retailer and a small, fast-growing startup. I studied Public Relations at Gonzaga University thinking I’d go into fashion PR, but what I really wanted — and always came back to — was being inside the fashion world itself, building product and shaping brands.
The idea for NEENDI came to me the way most meaningful ideas do: I couldn’t find what I was looking for. I’ve always been a sleep set girl and someone who deeply values rest. Putting on a matching pajama set at the end of the day has always felt like a small ritual — a way to celebrate yourself, even when no one else is around. But when I went shopping for sleepwear, I found that most of the options felt overly serious, neutral, or boring! I wanted something playful, expressive, colorful — something that felt like me.
In many ways, sleepwear is similar to lingerie. Sometimes it’s for someone else, but most of the time it’s for you — to feel cute, confident, and comfortable in your own private space. So I wanted to create a brand that brought joy into that moment. Something that made you smile before bed, boosted your mood, and encouraged a little more self-expression in everyday life.
That’s how NEENDI was born. Our motto is “Life is short, wear the fun pajamas,” and that really reflects our philosophy. At the heart of the brand is the idea that you deserve beauty, comfort, and playfulness — not just on special occasions, but in the quiet moments too. Our goal is to make women feel comfortable, happy, and confident in what they’re wearing, even when the only person seeing it is themselves.
2. What inspired the name of NEENDI?
I get this question more than I thought I would (time to put it on the website, ha!).The word neend means sleep or dream state in Hindi, and it felt like a beautiful, natural place to start.
The second part of the name is inspired by my grandpa, Sindi — short for Surindar. He was the hardest-working person I’ve ever known and the foundation for my work ethic, but more than that, he was simply the best grandpa. He and my grandma lived about fifteen minutes away from us growing up and helped care for me and my siblings often. At bedtime, we would all pile into one room and my grandpa, who grew up in Rajasthan, India and immigrated when he was eighteen, would tell us traditional Indian fables before we fell asleep.
Those moments became some of my most cherished childhood memories, and over time I started to associate that feeling of safety, imagination, and comfort very deeply with bedtime. Combining neend and Sindi into NEENDI felt like a meaningful way to honor that memory — and the idea of rest as something warm, intentional, and special.
My grandma is also woven into the brand. One of our signature fabrics is named Norma, after her. She was an artist and one of the brightest, most colorful people I’ve ever known. In many ways, both of them are the emotional and creative foundation of NEENDI — and the reason the brand is rooted in comfort and joy, not just product.
3. What is the LAUNE (mood) of NEENDI?
The mood of NEENDI is playful, optimistic, and comforting — with a sense of humor. It’s lighthearted but intentional. It doesn’t take itself too seriously, but it’s also thoughtful. It’s the feeling of winding down at the end of the day and choosing joy anyway.
NEENDI is for people who love color, pattern, and a little bit of whimsy, even in quiet moments. It’s cozy, but not boring. Fun, but not loud. It’s meant to feel like a small celebration — the moment you change into your pajamas, make a cup of tea, put your phone down, and get back to yourself.
Emotionally, the brand sits somewhere between nostalgic and modern trend. There’s warmth and softness to it, but also confidence and personality. We want NEENDI to feel like an exhale — something that makes you smile, feel comfortable in your own skin, and remember that rest can be beautiful, expressive, and joyful, not just practical.
In short, NEENDI’s mood is: cozy, colorful, feminine, and uplifting — with a wink.
4. NEENDI is known for bold prints and optimistic energy. Where does that creative direction come from? And what does the creative process look like?
Inspiration really comes from everywhere for me — fashion, art, interiors, pop culture, travel, even random moments in daily life. Because there aren’t many sleepwear brands doing prints quite like ours, we have a lot of freedom to go off a bit, be more playful, and take more creative risks.
That said, I do start with some traditional tools: Pinterest, runway shows, and color and trend reports. But I often find that print trend forecasting can feel very predictable — it’s always florals, plaids, or animal prints, which feels a little “Florals for spring… groundbreaking.” So a lot of the process is about thinking outside of those categories and asking, what would feel fun, unexpected, and emotionally resonant instead?
Right now, I’m actually in the middle of concepting Fall and Holiday collections. Creativity doesn’t always happen on a schedule — some of my best ideas come in the shower, in the car, or right before bed — so I keep an ongoing collection of ideas, screenshots, notes, and references. Then when it’s time to design, I go back through everything and start narrowing down what feels strongest and most aligned with the season and the brand.
Our design process itself is very detailed and hands-on. Every icon, illustration, and detail is intentionally crafted. We’ll revise and refine things many times until they feel just right — sometimes dozens of iterations. For example, in our Disco Cowgirl print, we had a tiny illustration of a woman “smoking” lipstick like a cigarette that probably went through ~25 versions before we landed on the final one.
Often, there isn’t an existing reference for what I’m imagining, so we build from the ground up. Martini Animal is a good example — that was just a feeling I had that two similar vibes (excess and glamour) should collide, and then we worked backwards to visually bring that idea to life.
So the creative direction really comes from curiosity, intuition, and a willingness to experiment — always grounded in the idea that our prints should feel joyful, expressive, and a little unexpected.
5. What inspires you?
I’m inspired by women, honestly — the way they live, rest, create, and care for themselves and each other. I’m inspired by the idea that life doesn’t have to be optimized and productive all the time to be meaningful. There’s so much beauty in the quiet, ordinary moments: getting ready for bed, making your morning coffee, sitting on the couch with a book, calling a friend just to chat. Those in-between moments are what I find the most creatively rich.
Visually, I’m inspired by color, pattern, interiors, vintage fashion, and nostalgic references — things that feel warm, expressive, and emotionally resonant rather than trendy for the sake of being trendy. I love things that feel layered, a little whimsical, and personal. I’m drawn to anything that tells a story or makes you feel something.
I’m also deeply inspired by women who build things — founders, artists, designers, writers — especially those who create on their own terms. Watching other women take creative risks and follow their intuition gives me so much permission and encouragement to do the same.
At the core of it all, I’m inspired by the idea that joy is not frivolous. That beauty, comfort, and playfulness are worthy pursuits. That rest is not something you earn, but something you deserve. That belief shapes not only what I make, but how I want NEENDI to feel in the world.
6. What are you looking forward to in 2026?
With a young brand, every day is a surprise — sometimes wonderful, sometimes challenging, and often both at once. I always say that having a small business is like going into the office with a perfectly organized plan… and then spending the entire day solving a completely different set of problems you never anticipated. So in that sense, I’m actually excited for the unknown.
Some of the most meaningful moments last year were the ones I never could have planned for — being featured in a magazine, having an influencer discover the brand organically and share it, receiving incredibly thoughtful messages from customers, or finding myself in collaborations I never imagined would happen. Those are the moments where your heart kind of stops, in the best way.
So what I’m looking forward to in 2026 is more of that — the unexpected growth, the surprise connections, the little wins that remind you why you started. I’m excited to keep learning, refining the brand, deepening our community, and seeing where the journey takes us. It really is a rollercoaster, but it’s one I feel incredibly grateful to be on.
7. What’s next for you and NEENDI?
One of my biggest focuses right now is fabric sourcing and the development of our second signature fabric. Sleepwear — and clothing in general — is incredibly personal, and everyone has different preferences around feel, weight, and care. While it’s impossible to please everyone, I do think consumers are more informed than ever and care deeply about what their clothes are made of.
So for us, the next step is introducing a fabric that reflects that — something rooted in natural fibers, easy to care for, and, of course, very soft. I already have a clear vision for what that fabric will be, and I’m excited to offer another option that meets different needs while still feeling distinctly NEENDI.
More broadly, what’s next is continuing to grow thoughtfully — expanding the brand in a way that feels aligned, intentional, and grounded in quality. For me, that means staying close to the product, listening to our customers, and building slowly and carefully, rather than chasing growth for growth’s sake.
Rapid Fire:
1. Describe your style in three words.
Comfortable, approachable and trendy. I asked my best gals if they’d add anything and they all said some version of vibrant and colorful–clarifying that “you’re not boring, there’s always something fun or bright in your outfits.”
2. Favorite NEENDI set?
A real Sophie’s choice here! Right now, I’m all about Rococo Dream but I change all the time. Could be different tonight!
3. Favorite brand?
It’s always changing, but in fashion I’m really inspired by Loewe, Jacquemus, and Cult Gaia. The young and funky players. For gifting and home, I love Houses and Parties as of late— it’s so fun and kitschy. And totally outside of fashion, Trader Joe’s — I’m a diehard fangirl. I admire how they’ve never compromised their model and still built something wildly successful.
4. If you could only wear one designer for the rest of your life, who would it be?
Obviously I’d be happy wearing NEENDI pajamas for the rest of my life. If I had to pick another brand it would have to be one that also sold sweatpants because how could I live without my cozy clothes?
5. Dream collab?
So many — but brand-wise, Judith Leiber would be insane, and I’d love to do something with Edie Parker too. I love the kookiness and individuality of both. For people, I’m on a real Matilda Bea kick — her style is classic and feminine and her home is a dream. She’s your favorite homebody’s favorite homebody. And honestly, Dutch influencers in general are leading in color styling right now… it makes me want NEENDI to ship internationally.
6. What are three staple items that every closet should have?
A great classic trench coat, Levi’s vintage jeans tailored to you — they never go out of style — and a totally impractical micro bag, because it’s a great conversation starter.
7. Favorite place?
The Big Island, Hawaii. It’s really special to me and my family — if I can sit on a beach, read all day, and have a frosty fruity drink while staring at the Pacific, that’s my ideal situation.
8. Favorite restaurant in Monterey?
For breakfast, Wagon Wheel — I’ve been going since I was a kid. Get a Benedict and share a pancake for the table. For breakfast burritos, El Charrito Express. For lunch, Jerome’s Deli or Parker Lusseau. And for dinner, Rudolfo’s for Italian and Cella.
9. Favorite drinks spot in Monterey?
Bud’s in Carmel — inside or out, but the patio on a sunny day is perfect. Get a specialty cocktail, and the burger if you’re hungry. For wine tasting, Pelio in Carmel Valley — great vibe, great wine, and it’s sister-owned.
10. Favorite style icon?
Tracee Ellis Ross. Full stop!
11. Favorite movie?
I’m more of a TV girl, but my favorite movies are It’s a Wonderful Life, Best in Show, Death Becomes Her, Orange County and The First Wives Club.
12. What are you loving right now?
I won’t shut up about Heated Rivalry — I refuse. I’m loving buying dress-up clothes and accessories for my niece. I get such a kick out of that little diva. I’m currently obsessed with Jenna Denise on Instagram — her weekly chicken salad recipes and food prep is somehow inspiring and soothing, and now I make it for my lunch. My NodPod Weighted Sleep Mask has totally changed my sleep, which, as you could’ve guessed, is top priority for me. And Amy Poehler’s podcast, Good Hang, never fails to make me smile — which feels essential when the vibes in the world are a bit rancid atm.
