Lesouque – Memphis Flyer

I’m so thankful to have worked on the cover feature story and fashion spread this week. To follow the spirit of many of the style sessions I’ve posted here, the spring fashion spread shows fashion through the portrait of a person and their true style. Twenty-something Memphian Leah-Claire Friddle Grawemeyer portrays herself in familiar and favorite places in Memphis, the places she grew up in. Here, we learn more about Leah with additional images to supplement the original spread.

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Leah and her family are no strangers to the world of fashion. In 2011, her family opened a few boutiques on South Main – Everleahs and Sir Samuels next to their restaurant Grawemeyers, which has now become South Main Sushi. The two boutiques have since transformed as well into a vintage store called Broken Arrow run by Leah’s sister Olivia Friddle. Growing up in the boutique business along with traveling to fashion meccas such as Paris, Milan, and Rome has broadened Leah’s style.

“I’ve seen so many different styles. I always remember them and their influences. Anyone from Brigitte Bardot to Cara Delevigne to Elizabeth Taylor are my influences. I always find something about each style that I like. Whether it’s a scarf or even their lipstick. Body language and confidence is all about style too. The way you present yourself is major. ‘Perception is reality,’” she says.

As far as her personal style favorites for spring, Leah talks tassels, leather, and looking naturally beautiful.

“One of my favorite things I’ve been seeing is wrap-around sandals with tassels. I always love a good western influence too. Modesty is back in. Mid length skirts with booties, half turtleneck shirts, and long sleeve chiffon tops. You don’t have to show a lot of skin to be sexy, but exposing your wrist and ankles are always good. Good leather bags are always a good staple and investment piece. Look for local leather makers and spend a little extra for one. I love lots and lots of rings. Put one on every finger and own it. Natural hair and makeup is always beautiful. Especially when you add a simple red lip. For spring, let your eyebrows go wild and bold. It’s a defining feature of your face and dark eyebrows are always slimming.”

Leah is an artist, musician, and student now working with the Lansky family in their various clothing store locations. With her love for music and recent focus on the banjo, Leah also volunteers her time at the Blues Foundation and Blues Hall of Fame.

“South Main is my community. My sense of belonging is here. Everyone knows everyone and that’s a great feeling,” Leah says.

Check out the issue on stands now and see the full outfit list with links below to the local shops and designers used in the feature.

Cover Photo at City & State
Shirt and Jeans – Lansky 126
Scarf – Local Designer Garner Blue, Stock & Belle

Rainy day with umbrella
Dress – Broken Arrow
Clutch – Lansky 126
Bracelet – Lesouque
Umbrella – American Apparel

Grand piano at South Main Sushi
Floral Dress – Stock & Belle
Cardigan – Lansky 126
Shoes (black pumps) – Lansky 126
Belt (Leather Tassel) – Lansky 126
Rings – Broken Arrow

At Broken Arrow
Graphic Top – Stock & Belle
Necklace – Local artist Nikkila Carroll, Stock & Belle
Jean skirt – Lansky 126
Bag – Lansky 126

On Stephanie
Shirt – Lansky 126
Jeans – Lansky 126

Under bridge at new mural in South Main
Shirt – local designer Tara Skelley of Dilettante Collection
Jeans – Lansky 126
Shoes (Brown strappy wedges) – Lansky 126
Purse – Broken Arrow

Blues Foundation Stairs
Top with Kimono Wrap – Stock & Belle
Shoes – Lansky 126
Scarf – Broken Arrow
Banjo – Model’s own

Blues Foundation Wall
Dress – 20twelve
Necklace – Lesouque
Shoes – Lansky 126
Kimono Top – Free People

Ernestine & Hazel’s upstairs
Top and Skirt – Stock & Belle
Necklaces – local designer Lauren Carlson of Question the Answer

Playing Pool at Ernestine & Hazel’s
Dress – Lansky 126
Hat – Model’s own

On Olivia
Dress – Stock & Belle

Bike and Flowers
Top – Broken Arrow
Skirt – Broken Arrow
Shoes – Lansky 126
Sunglasses – Lansky 126
Bag – Madewell
Bike – Midtown Bike

South Main intersection with trolley
Top (white fringe) – Lanky 126
Jeans – Lansky 126
Shoes (brown leather pumps) – Broken Arrow
Necklace – Lansky 126
Bag – City & State

Beautiful, unique, quality-made, and above all socially conscious – the goods that lifestyle brand Lesouque has carefully sourced represent an awareness that shopping can truly make a positive impact.

Lesouque founder Gokben Yamandag and co-founder Penelope Fisher launched their online store of these ethical goods this past summer, introducing up-and-coming designers to consumers around the globe. As with most retailers by this time of the year, they are promoting the start of the holiday shopping season but in quite a different way. This year, they are encouraging us to “Break up with Black Friday.”

“Think about the madness of Black Friday where you will probably buy things you might not need. The holidays are about family. Breaking up with Black Friday is saying, ‘stop and take a breather,’” explains Penelope, while also pointing out how in the end it helps you enjoy the holiday season.

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This mini campaign extends from their main goal to educate consumers that there are hidden costs of the items they buy and asks shoppers earnestly to “Think before you buy.” They also explain that the true cost of fashion does come at a cost, which usually ends up being at the cost of people making the item. Gokben herself has witnessed firsthand how the high demand for inexpensive and mass-produced goods can impact the well-being of these people. Working as a textile engineer over 10 years ago in Turkey, Gokben saw the harsh conditions in apparel factories that affected her deeply.

“I finally decided about a year ago that I wanted to change consumers’ minds and educate them about the manufacturing of clothes and home goods, so they are more informed about their decision to buy. I wanted to build something to help sell ethical items,” says Gokben.

Penelope came on board soon after Gokben made her decision to move forward with her idea. Hearing Gokben’s stories about the dark side of the industry, Penelope became more passionate about the educational component of the business. Though there is the effort to expose the dark side of the industry, Lesouque hopes to bring a bit of light to fashion by helping the public find products and designers they can feel good about supporting.

“The fun of it is helping market small and up-and-coming designers, some with no other place to sell like designers from Istanbul. In January, we took a trip to New York to meet many people from all over. California. Pennsylvania. We build connections and relationships and have become friends with most of them. Everyone works for the same goal,” says Gokben.

“We focus on the designers and the makers, those who treat their employees fairly. Beautiful items as you can see. Items I would wear. They are all things we love,” says Penelope.

Outfit Details

On Gokben:
Scarf: Subtle Stripes Scarf
by Hallie Gray
Bangles: Geometric Gemstone
by Jessica Tata
Bag: Istanbul Leather Clutch
by Ece Pinar Demirel

On Penelope:
Necklace: Ivory and Gold
by Irene Wood
Scarf: Woodside Scarf
by Lis Beck and Anne Sondergaard
Cuff: Eos Brass and Pyrite
by Brooklyn Medrano
Bag: Envelope Clutch
by Ece Pinar Demirel

All listed available at Lesouque.
Photographed at Terrace at the River Inn, Harbor Town Memphis.

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Upcoming Event
Pop up shop at Miss Cordelia’s Fall Festival
November 14, 11am to 3pm

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Here are a few astounding stats about the fashion industry compiled by Lesouque to help you “Think before you buy.”

170 million children are engaged in child labour, with many making textiles and garments to satisfy the demand of consumers in Europe, the US, and beyond. (The International Labour Organization)
In Bangladesh, 85% of 4 million garment workers are women making $68 per/month – the lowest manufacturing wages in the world. This falls far short of the $104 monthly living wage that unions are asking for, according to the Australian Fashion Report 2015.
Fashion is one of the most polluting industries in the world, second only to oil in terms of its environmental impact. 25% of chemicals produced worldwide are used for textiles and the industry is often noted as the number 2 polluter of clean water – after agriculture.
It takes 2720 liters of water to make a t-shirt. That’s how much we normally drink over a 3 year period.
The average American family takes home 1,500 plastic bags a year – less than 3% of them are ever recycled. A single plastic bag can take up 500 years to degrade.
The average American throws away 70 lbs. of clothing and other textiles every single year. Only 15% of all textiles are recycled, leaving 85% in the landfills, equaling 21 billion pounds of post-consumer textile waste per year.