A Brazilian citizen and passionate fashion designer, Lilian encompasses the perfect match of sports and design. With degrees in physical therapy (specialized in orthopedics and sports traumatology) and fashion design, Lilian would prove a natural fit for Oola’s design team.

At the young age of eight, her passion for art shone. From drawing to painting to embroidery, Lilian continued to hone her creative skills. “I was 26 years-old when I first sat at a sewing machine. There was no stopping me, I had fallen in love.” Discontent with her career in healthcare, Lilian took a leap of faith, changing careers, developing her creative design skills.

“Being a part of a the Oola team, where the main goal is to excel in sports and fitness, without having to compromise religious and cultural beliefs is very rewarding.” Lilian is happy to be working in a space that allows her to be inspired, creating elegant and unique designs.

When Lilian isn’t working her magic as a designer, she can be found traveling the world. She has called Boston, Chicago, London and Vienna her home in just four years. Lilian loves traveling, cultural exchange, and enjoys running along beach stretches wherever possible. She also teaches Pilates. She has a degree in physical therapy, specializing in Orthopaedics and Sports Traumatology from Brazil. Lilian also holds a Diploma in Fashion Design from the School of Fashion Design in Boston, Massachusetts.

A Qatari tech buff and amateur athlete with a love for the outdoors, Haya knows how hard it is to find sportswear that is modest, modern and functional. Starting later in the game, Haya began her fitness journey at age 28. She was inspired by a 78 year-old who crossed the finish line during the Boston Marathon in 2013, “I thought, what an accomplishment. I’m 28 and can’t even fathom having to run a 10K, let alone a full marathon.”

Oola Sportswear is the brainchild of Haya’s desire to enjoy the great outdoors while staying inline with her values and culture. “My drive is a result of being able to provide Muslim women with a whole new experience in sports and fitness.” After tireless shopping sprees at major sports stores and a whole lot of creativity (and luck), Haya often found herself having to mix and match a lot of pieces from various stores to make an outfit work.

Haya hopes that Oola Sportwear will make room for women in the Muslim world to feel comfortable while enjoying outdoor sports as well as lower the barrier to entry for women looking to compete in sports professionally.

When Haya is not outdoors working up a sweat, she coaches tech entrepreneurs, mentoring them to launch their own businesses. She holds an MBA from MIT Sloan School of Management. Haya enjoys cycling, hiking, kayaking, and running.

An architect, design thinker and a self-proclaimed hiking fiend, Amina struggled with finding sportswear that was lightweight, breathable and modest. “Not finding suitable clothing for outdoor sports while remaining within the realm of my values was frustrating and often led to me not participating in a number of outdoor activities.”

Intimidated by sports from an early age, Amina’s interest for fitness was sparked later on in life at age 29. It wasn’t until February 2012, when Amina checked herself into a resort in the Dolomites, that she discovered her passion for fitness and health. “My weeklong program included a daily training, mountain hikes, healthy eating and relaxation. Joining outdoor activities and being immersed in nature with views that would take anyone’s breath away, I was hooked. Hiking had now become my addiction.” Amina continued to travel and made sure to incorporate hiking into almost every trip.

In January 1st, 2015, Amina became one of many to summit Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania, as part of a fundraising campaign for Palestine Children’s Relief Fund. It was during this feat that Amina realized the lack of modest, functional and suitably designed clothing for women in hijab. Being an architect, a creative with a love for design, it was only natural that Amina would develop sportswear that is modest, contemporary and fashionable. “I want Oola to encourage other women to be active, challenge boundaries, enjoy the outdoors without thinking twice about apparel and comfort.”

When Amina doesn’t have her head in the clouds (hiking that is), she is Director of Technical Affairs at Qatar Foundation. She holds an MSc in Advanced Architectural Studies from UCL and plays a key role in the development and growth of Qatar’s most prominent architectural projects. Amina enjoys hiking, cycling and maintaining a healthy lifestyle.