Meet the Founder: Cássila Dolman on Building Lachesis London

We're excited to speak with Cássila Dolman, the visionary founder behind Lachesis London, a concept online store offering Brazilian-inspired sustainable luxury fashion accessories. Born in Brazil and having spent more than half her life in London, Cássila's journey from commercial lawyer to entrepreneur represents a fascinating blend of cultures, values, and professional evolution. After taking a career break to focus on her young family, she rediscovered her entrepreneurial spirit, which had first emerged when she was just 19 years old in Brazil. Named after one of the Three Goddesses of Fate from Greek mythology, Lachesis London was born in 2023 through what Cássila describes as a series of fateful encounters and reconnections. We're delighted to delve deeper into her story and the philosophy behind this mindful luxury brand.

Cássila, we love the story of how you rediscovered your entrepreneurial spirit after years in the legal world. What was that moment when you realized it was time to create something of your own again?

The moment came quietly but powerfully. After becoming a mother of 2, I took time off from work as I wanted to enjoy and fully immerse into that lovely motherhood bubble I was in at that time. I went back to the legal world via a consultancy role in a big project as I thought that would give me the career flexibility I craved – I needed to find the right balance between my young family and work life. 

The consultancy work  was a fantastic opportunity, and I really enjoyed it at first but as the months went on, it just became more and more apparent to me that I wanted to create something of my own where I could use my creativity, my skills and which would allow me to be the master of my own destiny. 

I remember sitting at my desk, deep into yet another contract drafting, and realising that while I was good at what I did, I no longer felt fulfilled by it. I had spent years in the legal world, honing my discipline, my attention to detail, and my ability to navigate complexity — but I missed creating. I missed the feeling of building something that reflected who I truly was.

The turning point wasn’t dramatic — it was more like an internal click. I remembered how much joy I found when I set up my first business at the age of 19 back in Brazil. That was when I knew: I wasn’t done being an entrepreneur. I simply needed the right moment — and the courage — to return to it with everything I’d learned along the way.

How has being Brazilian but living in London for so many years influenced your eye for design and the pieces you're drawn to?

I have been living in the UK for more than half of my lifetime now but the “Brazilianness” in me is very much alive. 

Being Brazilian at heart but living in London for such a long time means my design eye is a bit of a joyful contradiction—and I love that! From Brazil, I carry a deep love for bold colours, statement jewellery, fluidity, a touch of sensuality and a certain effortless drama—our culture celebrates beauty that’s alive, expressive and unapologetically vibrant. But London has taught me the power of refinement, structure and storytelling through subtlety. It’s this mix of tropical soul and British elegance that really shapes Lachesis London: pieces that feel timeless but unexpected, a classic with a twist. And this is why I think we are so unique! 

Many founders talk about the rollercoaster of launching a brand. What's been the most unexpected challenge you've faced since starting Lachesis London?

Oh! Where shall we start? I have had so many challenges since setting up Lachesis London that I could be here for a while... but they were fantastic learning experiences, and I am truly grateful for all of them.

I think one of the most unexpected challenges for me has been learning to sit with uncertainty. In the corporate world, you often have structure, forecasts, and clear KPIs—there’s a sense of predictability. But launching Lachesis London meant stepping into the unknown, where even with the best planning, things didn’t always go as expected. Whether it’s delays in production,  suppliers who acted in bad faith, or the ever-shifting world of digital marketing (which is one of our biggest challenges still) , I’ve had to become incredibly adaptable. The emotional highs and lows are real—some days it feels exhilarating, others overwhelming. But that unpredictability has also been the biggest teacher. It’s forced me to become more intuitive, more resilient, and more creative than I ever thought I could be.

Your background as a lawyer must give you a unique perspective on business. How has your legal training helped (or perhaps sometimes hindered!) your entrepreneurial journey?

Great Question! My legal background has been both a shield and a compass in my entrepreneurial journey. It’s given me a strong foundation in critical thinking, risk assessment and negotiation—skills that are invaluable when you're making decisions that affect your brand, finances and long-term vision. I’m able to read contracts with confidence, spot red flags quickly and navigate regulatory hurdles without feeling overwhelmed. Having said that, the lawyer in me can sometimes be overly cautious or perfectionistic, which can slow things down in a fast-moving business environment where sometimes you just need to trust your gut and go for it. 

I’ve had to learn to balance that instinct for precision with a willingness to take risks and adapt as I go —something entrepreneurship demands every single day.

I still struggle sometimes with the lack of urgency and responsiveness approach in some situations from third parties which is something that as a lawyer you cannot afford to have – it is all about managing your client’s expectations. But I am learning to be better at this each day. 

As a mother transitioning from the corporate world to running your own business, what advice would you give to other parents considering a similar path?

My biggest piece of advice is: don’t wait for the ‘perfect time’—it doesn’t exist. Transitioning from the corporate world to entrepreneurship as a parent is challenging, but it’s also incredibly empowering. You learn to become fiercely focused with your time, because every hour counts when you're juggling family and business. Trust your instincts and don’t underestimate the skills you already have—being a parent teaches you resilience, negotiation, multitasking, and patience, all of which are essential for running a business. Build a support network, be kind to yourself, and redefine what success looks like on your own terms. The balance isn’t always perfect, but the freedom and fulfillment can be worth it.

What's next for Lachesis London? Any exciting collaborations, new collections, or directions you can share with us?

We have had a very exciting journey so far for such a young business. We were featured in some of the best fashion publications in the country, bagged a Business Owner of the Year award in 2024, we were selected for an incubator program sponsored by the Brazilian Embassy in the UK  and we have collaborated with some fabulous Brazilian designers. It has been busy!! 

From a business strategy perspective, I am currently working on scaling the business and expanding our territory – currently we sell to the UK and US but I believe we would do really well in the EU too. Our focus will be stronger on fashion accessories as I believe in their transformative power: creating new looks without encouraging over-consumerism provides a strong platform for the sustainability mission we embrace. We also want to expand our philanthropy efforts and engage with more charities. 

I am combining a family trip with work and am meeting a couple of new super-talented designers in Brazil this Summer for a possible very exciting collaboration. Can’t say more, so, watch this space!