March 3rd, 2025
Women Who Build: Martha Lapeyre
Welcome to Le Femme Foundry, where we spotlight trailblazing women redefining leadership and reshaping their industries. This week, we are honored to feature Martha Lapeyre, founder of Lapeyre, established in 2024. Martha’s journey in fashion is rooted in simplicity, comfort, and effortless elegance.
After honing her craft at the Savannah College of Art and Design, Martha embarked on a transformative experience in Florence, Italy. Immersed in the cradle of Renaissance art and fashion, she delved into creative direction, drawing inspiration from the city’s rich culture and history. This experience shaped her unique approach to design, emphasizing the seamless integration of style and ease.
Through Lapeyre, Martha celebrates the feminine spirit, creating pieces that move with you, ensuring that style and comfort always go hand in hand. Her collections are a nod to the legacy of women who embodied a unique blend of strength and grace, inviting the modern woman to step into her own power.
Join us as we explore Martha’s journey, her creative philosophy, and how she’s shaping the future of fashion with purpose and vision.
Can you remember the first moment you thought “oh this is going to work?”
Well, it wasn’t tied to a big sale or a major milestone, it was the moment I truly understood how few people actually take the leap to start in the first place. So many people dream about launching a brand, but they get stuck in the “what ifs”—What if it fails? What if I’m not good enough? What if it’s too risky? But once I took that first jump, I realized that the biggest barrier wasn’t talent, resources, or even competition—it was fear. And once I had pushed past that initial fear, everything started to fall into place.
What’s the riskiest thing you’ve done in business?
The riskiest thing I’ve done in business was choosing to outsource and build a team early on. Instead of trying to do everything myself, I invested in consultants, specialists, and other teams—long before most people would consider it the ‘safe’ move. Financially, it was a huge risk, especially in the beginning when every dollar mattered. But I believe that real success isn’t about doing everything alone, it’s about surrounding yourself with people who are even better than you in their areas of expertise. I wanted to be the weakest link in my own company because that meant I had built the strongest team possible.
If your business were a song, what would be its anthem?
If my business had an anthem, it would be ‘Do You Know What It Means to Miss New Orleans’ by Louis Armstrong and Billie Holiday. This song has a deep, soulful nostalgia that speaks to the heart of New Orleans; a place where tradition meets reinvention. It captures the bittersweet feeling of looking back while staying driven toward something new. For my brand, it’s all about honoring the past, staying grounded in what makes it special, while embracing the future and all the risks that come with it. The song’s smooth, jazzy vibe perfectly reflects the perseverance, passion, and soul that I pour into my business every day.
Did you ever consider throwing in the towel? If so, why didn’t you?
There were definitely moments when I thought about throwing in the towel. Building a business, especially in fashion, comes with its fair share of setbacks, self-doubt, and exhaustion. To get through it I surrounded myself with people who believed in the vision as much as I did. Whether it was my team, mentors, or even close friends, having that support system reminded me that setbacks weren’t the end of the road.
Who has mentored you and how have they shaped your view on business and being a female founder?
I’ve been incredibly lucky to have strong mentors guide me throughout my journey as a founder. First and foremost, my family has been my biggest source of confidence. They always made me believe that I was capable of anything I set my mind to, and that sense of self-belief has been the most important element of building my business.
Beyond that, I’ve had the privilege of working with two amazing consultants, both of whom are female founders themselves. Watching them build and lead with strength, intelligence, and grace has been inspiring.
What makes my journey even more meaningful is that my entire team is made up of women. I am creating a brand by women, for women—one that empowers not just our customers, but the people behind the scenes making it all happen.
What’s one thing about your day-to-day as a founder that would surprise people?
I think people assume that being a founder is all about creativity, big-picture thinking, and glamorous moments but what might surprise them is just how much of my day-to-day is spent problem-solving the smallest details. From dealing with unexpected production issues to troubleshooting website glitches, a huge part of my job is putting out fires and making sure everything runs smoothly behind the scenes.
How do you celebrate wins, both big and small, in your business?
When something big happens, like a successful launch or reaching a major milestone, the first thing I do is share it with my team. We’ll hop on a call, send excited messages back and forth, or take a moment to acknowledge all the hard work that went into making it happen. Since my team is made up of incredible women, it feels even more special to celebrate together and lift each other up.
What’s a skill you didn’t realize you’d need as a founder, but now consider indispensable?
I never realized how important emotional management would be as a founder. I always knew I’d need creativity, strategy, and problem-solving skills, but I didn’t expect just how much of my job would be about staying calm under pressure, navigating emotions, and pushing through when you feel like you have nothing left in you. Mind over matter.
How do you define and measure success?
I define success as the ability to keep going, evolving, and staying true to my vision. It’s not just about hitting a certain sales number or getting press—those things are great, but real success is building something that lasts and has meaning.
What’s a business decision you made purely on gut instinct, and how did it turn out?
Every creative decision in my business—whether it’s design, branding, colors, fabrics, or print-making—is made purely on gut instinct. I don’t follow trends just for the sake of it or rely on data to tell me what will work. Instead, I trust my intuition and create what feels right, what excites me, and what I know will resonate with the women who connect with my brand.
What’s your guilty pleasure after a long day of hustle?
After a long day of hustle, my guilty pleasure is definitely multitasking with all my favorite things. I’ll usually be needlepointing while I watch true crime docs or getting sucked into a competition reality show like Survivor – I’m all about the drama. And, of course, my dog is always nearby, so I’m hanging out with him too. It’s a perfect combo of relaxing and unwinding while still keeping myself entertained.
How do you set boundaries between your personal life and business when everything feels intertwined?
I’ll be honest—I haven’t quite figured out how to fully set boundaries between my personal life and business yet. As a founder, everything often feels intertwined, and there are times when the line between work and personal time gets blurry. I’m constantly juggling responsibilities, and I find myself working into the late late nights or even on weekends.
Thank you for joining us in celebrating women’s achievements and sharing their stories. We can’t wait to highlight more inspiring journeys in the weeks ahead—because when women rise, we all rise.
Be sure to follow the incredible Martha Lapeyre to explore her world of effortlessly refined fashion and see how she’s redefining modern wardrobe essentials. And don’t forget to stay connected with Le Femme Foundry on Instagram for the latest updates and empowering stories!
