M.M. LaFleur
M.M. LaFleur is a professional womens apparel company based in New York City. Founded in 2011 by Sarah Miyazawa LaFleur, the brand creates thoughtfully designed workwear and accessories for modern professional women.
The Story
Sarah Miyazawa LaFleur started M.M. LaFleur in 2011 after a career in management consulting, frustrated by the gap between the clothes she wanted to wear and what was available for working women. From the beginning, the company operated on a core belief: when women succeed, the world becomes a better place. She built M.M. LaFleur as a wardrobe solution that took the work out of getting dressed.
The early years were anything but easy. M.M. LaFleur struggled to convert online while in-person trunk shows performed well, and the COVID-19 pandemic pushed the company to the brink. Revenue fell 60 percent in 2020, three rounds of layoffs were necessary, and every store closed. LaFleur later described it as the most painful period in the company's history.
M.M. LaFleur returned to profitability in 2022 and began growing again. Yet the second act brought new near-death moments: the 2023 Silicon Valley Bank collapse and a 2024 lender failure that forced an urgent capital call. Each time, LaFleur credited team resilience and a personal practice of meditation as her CEO coping mechanism.
Today, M.M. LaFleur serves professional women from their late 20s through their mid-50s, offering both refined workwear and power-casual pieces like blazers and denim. The brand donates 10 percent of annual profits to organizations supporting women, turning one woman's closet frustration into a respected workwear brand still built around its founding mission.
Key Facts & Metrics
Products
The Merritt Jardigan
A jacket and cardigan in one, cut like a jacket with the soft, stretchy feel of a cardigan. One of M.M.LaFleur's best-selling styles year-round.
The O'Hara Boyfriend Blazer
A best-selling blazer with a slightly boxy cut and long hemline, balanced by a slim fit through the shoulders. The most fashion-forward style in the collection.
The Shift Dress
The dress that started it all. A timeless, versatile shift dress designed to take the work out of getting dressed for any professional occasion.
The Slim Ankle Pant
A wardrobe staple with a slim fit through the hip and a tapered ankle. Made from stretch fabric designed for all-day comfort through long workdays.
Company Timeline
2011 — Company founded
Sarah Miyazawa LaFleur launched M.M. LaFleur in New York City after leaving her career in management consulting to solve her own problem: finding professional clothing that actually fit and worked for working women.
2020 — COVID pandemic devastates revenue
Revenue fell 60 percent from 2019. The company went through three rounds of layoffs and closed every store location. LaFleur later described it as the most painful period in the company's history.
2022 — Return to profitability
After weathering the pandemic collapse, M.M. LaFleur returned to profitability and began steadily growing again, reopening some stores and opening new ones.
2023 — Silicon Valley Bank collapse and profit pledge
The Silicon Valley Bank collapse forced a nerve-wracking 72-hour period for the company. M.M. LaFleur also announced it would donate 10 percent of annual profits to social-impact organizations supporting women.
2024 — Lender collapse triggers capital call
M.M. LaFleur's lender went under, forcing an urgent capital call that LaFleur described as the closest she had ever come to losing the business.
