Born the eldest of four to a scholarly father and a stern mother, my grandmother, Mijah Kim grew up in post-colonial South Korea.

She was a bright girl who loved reading and dreamed of becoming a fashion design professor. But in a country struggling with immense poverty, there was little room for dreams, especially for the eldest daughter.

She was responsible for taking on the burdens of her family. At an age when she could hardly take care of herself, she was expected to raise her younger siblings, cook, clean, and manage the household. She found comfort in her sleep, often dreaming about her vibrant designs coming to life. But for a woman who had never slept in past 5 a.m., even those moments were fleeting. Her love for fashion design slowly became more and more unattainable. She was often scolded for looking at glamorous fashion magazines while scrubbing the floor. Still, despite the sacrifices she made, she refused to let history repeat itself.

She never asked her five daughters to cook, clean, or take on household responsibilities. She was determined to give them the freedom she never had. All five went on to pursue their passions in law, finance, education, and even fashion design. Through it all, my grandmother remained the most creative person I know. She never stopped making things with her hands, but she had given up on her dreams.

For years, she made each of her granddaughters pajama sets from scratch. As I slipped them on, I realized this was it. The perfect way to honor the dream she had set aside so many years ago. If she couldn’t pursue fashion for herself, I would help bring her vision to life.

Loafly was created for her. For all the days she longed to rest but wasn’t granted the privilege, for the dreams she never got to pursue. These pajamas are a tribute to women like Mijah, whose quiet resilience shaped generations.