THE PERFECT ASSISTANT

Becoming an expert in sewing has been a top priority for me. The journey has been satisfying, and I crave to make a mark in this industry. 

From 2014 to 2020, we ran a successful Groupon ad in Washington, DC, Richmond, VA, Durham, NC, and Baltimore, MD. The response was incredible and we managed to show over 1,500 individuals how to sew while maintaining a 4.9 rating. Although the classes came to a stop when Covid hit, we were able to serve our customers via Zoom classes and workshops. Visit our customer reviews and ratings here: https://www.groupon.com/deals/the-laurianda-clothing-company-13

While spreading the skill of sewing throughout the east coast, I sold a line of women's garments under the brand Laurianda.  The line was called Laurianda and I called it “girly girl clothes for girly ladies” because it consisted of youthful elements like ruffles and bows yet clean enough to show your independent mature side.

We sold at trade shows such as Capsule NY and pop-up events. Our clientele grew and we started to cater to women with custom-fitting needs.

The market was saturated with fashion designers and nice clothes, but women wanted solutions to their fitting problems while being able to wear these designer styles. 

“How do I keep my skirt waistband from wrinkling up and rolling down?”

“My skirts either fit my hips or my waist. It’s hard to find one that fits both.”

“I hate shopping. There’s nothing out there for my shape.”

“I always have to get my pants and skirts altered after I buy them.”

“Because my butt is not proportioned with my waist, I get this annoying gap in my waistband.”

Taking this feedback into consideration, I invented The Perfect Assistant.

The Perfect Assistant is a versatile new skirt design with a powerful, tummy-slimming cinch, hand-tailored and impossibly comfortable. Designed with all body types in mind, the waistband facing is a secret corset with channels of steel boning. It shapes the waist while the skirt portion skims the hips. Perfect for all body types including pear and apple shapes. 

The Perfect Assistant can be purchased online or through a scheduled private shopping session. During our sessions with customers, we take accurate measurements, view skirt styles, select fabric options, and customize the length for the client’s length. When you purchase a skirt, you're supporting skill development in our local community and fashion sustainability.

The Perfect Assistant is made in Richmond, VA by trained artisans. We believe in personal development and financial security for black women. I took this invention full force. I taught a few ambitious women how to sew and we now produce the product in-house. Once artisans are trained, our equipment and facilities are available for further support. Artisans are able to work on their ideas and projects. They can develop their ideas and make their dreams a reality.

We are not a "run of the mill" sewing company. Nor do we order huge factory productions from overseas and sell through any sales channel in hopes of depleting inventory and turning a profit. Instead, we work with people who care about quality, craftsmanship, and personal development.

We offer our artisans FLEXIBLE SCHEDULING, SAME-DAY PAY, and ONGOING SUPPORT.

I grew the company with my skills in sewing. In addition to custom garment making for women, we hosted a series of manufacturing contracts including upholstery covers for office furniture for Open Plans System, nursing scrubs and face masks for various private nursing companies, little girl formal dressed for Christine Falcon’s The Tulle Princess, women’s handbags for Starks-Rankin, and character dolls for the hit book Tabula Raisa by Eric Townsend. 

With these accounts, I have been able to run a debt-free company and take part in community development. We have partnerships with the following community development programs:

• Our partnership with the Visual Arts Center of Richmond has allowed us to impart sewing skills to adults and kids. Since 2015, I've taught over 100 students per year. The Visual Arts Center of Richmond (VisArts) has helped adults and children explore their creativity and make art since 1963. Each year, the organization touches the lives of more than 40,000 people through its classes, exhibitions, community outreach programs, camps, workshops, and special events.
• Our partnership with Make Space helps us to show young women the fun of creating something they made. Make Space pairs 14 sixth-grade girls—all of whom attend Anna Julia Cooper Episcopal School—with 14 women for a year of mentorship and art-making. Since joining this program in 2018, I've taught over 75 young girls how to sew and market their products to the public.
• Oakwood Arts has allowed us to present the skill of sewing from a business perspective. Oakwood Arts make art and careers in creative industries accessible to all through community engagement, inspiring programming, and experiential education. Their programs include classes and workshops that focus on the digital and technical skills students need to succeed in the creative workforce. Since partnering with Oakwood Arts in 2017, I've taught over 60 individuals how to sew.
• Lastly, we currently work with Girls For A Change. Girls For A Change focuses on the development of self-identifying Black girls as leaders and change-makers across the Greater Richmond Metro Area. Their programs teach participants to understand their world, advocate for their rights, and exercise agency over their lives through a continuum approach and creative platforms. Each program is unique to the Black girl experience as they have been co-designed with Black girls.