Our Story

Sarah LaFleur and Miyako Nakamura leaning against each other on a city street

Our Story

M.M.LAFLEUR IS A FEMALE-FOUNDED STARTUP BUILT ON A CORE BELIEF:

When women succeed, the world becomes a better place. Our goal is to take the work out of getting dressed, so that you can focus on the work that matters to you.

Living Our Mission

While we know that clothes can’t solve all the world’s problems, we’re committed to using our products and our voices to empower working women in any way we can. Here are a few of the initiatives we’ve been working on lately:

Bottomless Closet

Since 2017, we’ve partnered with an incredible organization called Bottomless Closet, which helps disadvantaged NYC women enter and succeed in the workforce.

Ready to Run

In early 2020, we offered complimentary clothing loans to women running for office.

Girl Scouts of the USA

In fall of 2020, we partnered with Girl Scouts of the USA to help get out the vote, raise membership scholarships, and hold mentorship panels for Girl Scout Cadets.

Ready to Vote

To encourage our customers to get out the vote, we offered exclusive discounts to anyone who showed that they were registered to vote, phone banking, text banking, or working the polls.

She Should Run

To celebrate International Women’s Day in 2019, we donated 40% of the profits from our Centennial Suit to She Should Run, an organization that empowers and educates women who are considering running for office.

Gender Fair Certified

We are proud to be a Gender Fair-certified company. (Gender Fair is the first consumer rating system for gender equality, which reports on how companies serve women as leaders, employees, customers and citizens).

Our Customers

Maybe you’re breaking barriers in the corporate world and need pieces that make you feel comfortable and confident. Maybe your work is at home with the kids, and you need an easy-to-style wardrobe that’s 100% machine-washable and Twister-friendly. Or maybe you’re running for local office, working to create the change you want to see in your community. We have clothes for you.

Our Team

Our Founder and CEO, Sarah LaFleur, got her start as a management consultant. Frustrated by a lack of women’s workwear options that were both stylish and practical, she teamed up with Miyako Nakamura (the former head designer of Zac Posen) and Narie Foster to launch M.M.LaFleur in 2013. Since then, we’ve grown into a team of go-getters who are committed to creating a better future for women. Miyako serves as our Chief Creative Officer, and her high-end design sensibility is a beautiful complement to Sarah’s focus on practicality.

Our Clothes

When Miyako and her team create a piece of clothing, they make sure it encompasses three things: functional details (think: adjustable hems and bra-strap holders); comfort (and not just comfortable-for-a-blazer comfort—we strive for I-could-nap-in-this comfort); and style—so you can be the most chic, polished person in every room you enter. If you’re new to our brand, start by checking out our best-selling essentials.