M.M. Rahul Promises Free Clothing to Women Running for Public Office
When a woman decides to run for office (opens in new tab), there are countless things to think about: how will I raise money, who will join my team, do I need to prepare a day care center, what should I wear to be comfortable while fighting the sexism that is so pervasive in our current political system
Thank you.
Thankfully, workwear company M.M. LaFleur (opens in new tab) recently announced that it wants to make this last decision a little easier.
In an Instagram post and email, the company told shoppers that it would lend clothing to women running for public office this year. Sarah LaFleur, founder and CEO of M.M. LaFleur, told ELLE.com. 'We don't claim that clothing is really what makes the difference here, but we do know that it is one small way that we can potentially help many women who don't have access to these kinds of clothes or the money needed to buy new clothes. We hope that by offering this service, we can help alleviate some of the questions about what to wear on the trail."
The company, whose mission is to "take the work out of dressing for work" (opens in new tab), explained that after the 2016 presidential election, it sent an email to the M.M. community asking for input on how the company could best provide support. Many responded about the need to support women running for office. (As M.M. LaFleur points out, only about 27% (open in new tab) of elected positions in the United States are held by women.)
Women interested in participating in the new program can contact [email protected] with their name, location, and a description of the position for which they are running. However, as several people on Twitter have noted, women considering applying should check with their local campaign rules about accepting this type of offer.
M.M. LaFleur also announced a future partnership with She Should Run, a nonpartisan organization dedicated to educating women who are considering running for office. Fittingly, the company's spring collection (open in new tab) is called "Ready to Run" and includes suit separates, swingy dresses, and everyday work tops.
After the announcement, Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez praised the initiative on her Instagram story, writing As a member, its professionalism helps challenge subconscious biases. When I was first elected, I needed a whole new wardrobe for my new job. I had nothing to wear to be a legislator, and I don't know what I would have done without the hand-me-downs from my friends before I was sworn in."
Of course, as M.M. LaFleur points out, clothing alone cannot tip the scales of representation across the country. But there is a reason why they are still called power suits.
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