Founded by Dorsa Babaei, dorsaLi was shaped by a life lived across cultures. Born and rooted in Iran, raised in India, and later studying Demi Couture in Dubai, her journey shaped a perspective on clothing that moves naturally across places and moments.

dorsaLi comes from “Dorsa,” meaning pearl, and “Li,” a childhood nickname from Lily. A name shaped by memory, identity, and personal roots.

dorsaLi was first introduced in Dubai in 2014 as a small collaborative project. In 2016, the brand opened a boutique in the south of Iran, operating on a made to order model and building a close relationship with its community.

Soon after, a new chapter began. With Dorsa’s move to Canada, it meant saying goodbye to the boutique, but not to the community that had formed around the brand.

dorsaLi found its home in Montreal, a city known for its creativity and independent spirit. In 2021, the brand was relaunched as a ready to wear line, with a continued focus on local production and small batch manufacturing.

Across every iteration of dorsaLi, one thing has remained constant. Production has always stayed local, and the creative process has remained closely held, with Dorsa deeply involved in every stage.

Today, dorsaLi continues to evolve, shaped by its past and grounded in its present, now in what we call home, Canada.