How I Built This with Guy Raz

M.M.LaFleur: Sarah LaFleur (2020)

Jan 10, 2022

Sarah LaFleur, Founder and CEO of M.M.LaFleur, shares her journey from corporate life to launching a fashion line for professional women. Frustrated with her own closet, she partnered with designer Miyako Nakamura to create elegantly tailored clothing. The conversation delves into her struggles with fundraising, the importance of fit, and innovative marketing strategies. LaFleur also discusses overcoming financial challenges without venture capital and the balance of luck and hard work in entrepreneurship, especially during the pandemic.

01:08:06

Episode guests

Sarah LaFleur

AI Chapters

Episode notes

Intro

3min

From Consulting to Couture: The Entrepreneurial Journey

20min

Building a Fashion Vision

10min

Navigating Fashion Entrepreneurship and Financial Challenges

4min

Fashion Fit and Entrepreneurial Journey

12min

Struggles of Launching an Online Fashion Business

3min

Navigating Startup Finances and Innovative Solutions

16min

Building a Business Without VC

4min

The Intersection of Luck and Hard Work in Entrepreneurship

3min

When she was working corporate jobs in New York City, Sarah LaFleur hated getting dressed in the morning; the choices in her closet felt overwhelming, many items didn't fit right or wore out too quickly. So in 2011 she launched a line of clothing for working women that would be simple, elegant, and well-tailored. She had no experience in fashion but partnered with a top-line designer, Miyako Nakamura, to create M.M.LaFleur. Today it's a multi-million dollar company with loyal customers from Capitol Hill to Silicon Valley. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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