Clothing company MM LaFleur will loan clothes free of charge to women running for office, the brand announced on Tuesday.
“We never claim that clothing helps move the needle on female representation, but we do want to do our part to make things a little easier,” CEO and founder Sarah LeFleur said in an email to the “MM community”.
Women who run in any race can email the brand for more information on the offer.
“Yes that’s right! We lend clothes to any woman running for public office at any level,” the brand tweeted. # ready to run? Contact us at readytorun@mmlafleur.com with your name, location and description of the office you are running for and we will get back to you.
Yes, it’s true! We lend clothes to any woman running for public office at any level. Are you # ready to run? Contact us at readytorun@mmlafleur.com with your name, location and description of the office you are running for and we will get back to you. #inmymm
– MMLaFleur (@mmlafleur) February 18, 2020
Asked on Twitter if the offer is open to Republican candidates, the account of MM LaFleuer replied “we are here to support women in leadership in all its forms!”
The brand’s decision was defended by Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-CortezAlexandria Ocasio-CortezThe Memo: Attacks On Democracy Infiltrate School Boards And Election Offices Texas Court Ruling On Law Does Not Threaten Roe – But Democrats Overreaction Could Present By Schneider Electric – Overnight Equilibrium / Sustainability – Mars rover pierces the first successful sample PLUS (DN.Y.), who shouted at the announcement on her Instagram Story Tuesday.
“When I introduced myself (even now!), Accessing clothes for work was a big challenge both logistically and financially,” she wrote. “As a candidate, asking people to vote for you a lot helps them visualize you on the job. As a member, this professionalism helps you challenge unconscious biases.
Ocasio-Cortez added that she had no clothes to prepare for Congress and relied on gifts from friends before taking the oath.
“So shout out to anyone helping you, and if you know someone running, ask them if they want an old blazer or an old dress!” She added.
MM LaFleur launched in 2011 by Sarah LaFleur and co-founders Narie Foster and Myako Nakamura. The brand is centered on the idea that women have “better things to do than worry about what to wear”, with the aim of eliminating “the job of dressing for work”, based on its description online.
