We recently connected with Amanda Stewart and have shared our conversation below.

Amanda, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Let’s start with the story of your mission. What should we know?

Lou Lapel is a brand for strong warriors and tastemakers who blaze their own unconventional paths. As a ready-to-wear fashion brand with sustainable practices, we’re reimagining style through unique designs that serve those who desire to look different and stand out amongst the crowd. Our focus is on providing distinctive garments, unparalleled fits, and sensible unisex sizing options, all created with longevity in mind.

At Lou Lapel, we’re hyper-focused on community and culture through fashion. Our aim is to create a community and influence culture through our quality-first designs, no matter the size or gender. We believe that fashion is a powerful tool that can leave a long-lasting imprint on people’s closets, confidence, and style, as well as on the community and culture as a whole.

Our commitment to sustainability and longevity extends beyond just our designs. We want our tastemakers to pass down their Lou Lapel pieces and accessories for many years after purchasing with us. We’re proud to leave behind a legacy as a fashion brand that impacted not only people’s closets and style but also left a positive impact on its community and culture. At Lou Lapel, we’re not just creating fashion – we’re creating a movement.

Amanda, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

Why I started LL (Inspired by my Aunt Louise)

Lou Lapel was founded in honor of Amanda’s late Aunt Louise, who inspired her as a teenager to be confident in herself and pursue her dreams of becoming a fashion designer. Aunt Louise was always gracefully dressed and intelligent, and her influence left a lasting impact on Amanda’s life.

With Lou Lapel, Amanda is not only fulfilling her childhood dream but also paying tribute to her Aunt Louise’s legacy by creating a fashion brand that impacts people’s lives in a positive way. Lou Lapel is not just about clothing and accessories, but also about empowering individuals to express themselves and feel confident in their own skin.

Amanda’s mission for Lou Lapel is to create a voice for minority women-owned businesses in the luxury fashion industry while making a positive impact on the community and culture. With Lou Lapel, she hopes to leave behind a legacy as a fashion brand that not only transforms people’s closets but also transforms their confidence and style while positively impacting the world.

What’s worked well for you in terms of a source for new clients?

The best source of new customers for LL has been through word of mouth (friends telling friends) and social media.

Can you open up about how you funded your business?

Funding LL has been mainly through bootstrapping and grants. As a small business that has to work hard to prove profitability before big funds, its the best route for us at this time until we can prove true profitability and gain more interest from investors in the future as the business continues to scale.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://loulapel.com/
• Instagram: @lou_lapel
• Facebook: @loulapel
• Twitter: @lou_lapel

Image Credits
Models: Akua and Briannia, photographed by Michael Fil and Tutes