A working mother juggling career and family, Dorian Lightbown was tired of sacrificing comfort in order to express her unique sense of style. Built on her creativity, decades of experience, and knitwear know-how, Dorian started NIC+ZOE in 2005. She named it after her kids and now works alongside her daughter, Zoë. Together they've never lost sight of that original mission.

That mother/daughter spirit has inspired a broader expression of family—a joyful collective of dynamic female creators and makers, who exude the same passion, creativity, and belief in what they're building with the people around them. That close-knit family feeling is key to expressing who we are and aim to be.

For us, it's all about the personal touch. We wear the clothes too, and we're very picky about what we like. That's why we're not just pretty patterns (though there's plenty of those), but we go the extra mile when it comes to fit and feel. We're obsessive about making sure our fabrications are "feel this!" comfortable and last for years. And, unlike most brands who use a mannequin, we also tailor the fit of every piece using an on-staff model, ensuring each piece fits, and feels, juuuuuust right.

We've got close ties with the Rhode Island School of Design: a world class art school, our New England neighbors, and the alma mater of our founder (plus more than half our design team and too many summer interns to count). We're always looking to work with the next generation of artists through donations, mentorships, and special projects that get designers-to-be valuable hands on experience.