Life & Work with LaShanté Banks

Today we’d like to introduce you to LaShanté Banks.

Hi LaShanté, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
Hi, my name is LaShanté Banks. My clients know me as LA Shanté. I am a self-taught fashion designer from Mobile, Alabama. I specialize in glam, modern, exquisite looks for younger women.

In January 2013, I was at a party and I saw this female with a lime green pencil skirt and I asked her where did she get it. She told me someone made it for her. So I knew an older lady down the street from my mom’s house by the name of Ms. Florine, that sews. I visited Ms. Florine and she told me, “you can make it yourself; go get a machine I will guide you.” I had no clue in the world how to sew but I was eager to have that skirt.

Ms. Flo showed me how to thread a machine and guided me. I was always into fashion since I was a kid but I was in college for Barbering and hairstyling at the time. Not to mention, I was also broke and only had fifty-eight dollars. I still went to Walmart and found a machine, I bought it for fifty-seven dollars. I took it home to my mother’s den and plugged it up and everything just came to me. I made myself an outfit and did not know what I was doing but it turned out perfect.

I followed “Meshataughtme” on YouTube for tips and tricks and once I posted photos in my outfit on social media, I got three clients the same day. Those clients brought me more clients and now, with all of the life challenges from dropping out of college, moving from state to state, and quitting jobs, I am nowhere in Atlanta, Georgia, sewing nationwide during COVID-19. I have earned my name LA Shanté LLC but I was lead to title my brand LA Shanté Couture.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
I love sewing and creating designs and the love I receive from my work. Without it, I don’t know how I would survive. GOD really blessed me. It has not all been smooth sailing for me. No one calls and check on me anymore I feel like everyone approaches me regarding my work so this is my life. I lost friends and people I thought would be in my life forever. I felt as if I was attacked in so many ways. But moving to a bigger city really was needed for me. Small town girl, big city dreams, I get to meet people that don’t know me yet lol and talk about other things, then go back home and create. When COVID-19 hit, nobody knew I was in Atlanta and had to sleep in my car until it was over. Apartment offices were closed and postponing everything. I went from house to house, sleeping on people’s floors. It was so hard. But GOD came through for me and recovered me and everything I lost.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I create and sew garments. I specialize in Glam, Modern, Exquisite looks for younger women. I am known to help boost a woman’s confidence and self-esteem. I am proud of myself and my work because I attract so many people and get to inspire others. What sets me apart from others is my story and my personality, I don’t just sell garments to clients. These people actually connect with me and love me as if I’m family to them. It means everything to me.

Who else deserves credit in your story?
I thank GOD firstly because this had to be His doing. I thank Ms. Florine for encouraging me to buy the machine. I thank my mom for letting me mess up her den and my sister for listening to me and supporting my dream. (This got me in tears) Shanava Williams, I truly thank her because she has been such a big inspiration and help in my life. She was one of my first clients and what I love about her is she grew with me, she supported me no matter what it was; she was there. I also thank April Carson, she wore any and everything I made for her and she pushed me to do things I had no clue I could do. I want to thank those that helped me up when I was down, and I truly thank my entire city and everyone for believing in me.

Contact Info:

• Email: [email protected]
• Website: www.LaShanteCouture.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/la.shantecouture
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pg/la.shantecouture
• Youtube: https://youtu.be/AeyRsSF4dU8
• Other: https://vm.tiktok.com/ZMeuD66Vr/

Image Credits
Erika E’class, Whitney Bianca, Tierney Styles, Haileigh Trainer Thank you all so much!