Le Dressing by Boubou : Femininity, Comfort and Elegance in Five Minutes for Women

Pretty, feminine and comfortable in all circumstances: This is Laurence Girasa’s motto, creator of Le Dressing by Boubou. The entrepreneur, who is originally from Belgium, shares with us her inspiration behind the launching of her clothing line in Mauritius. 

All women want to be elegant, feminine, feel comfortable in their clothes all day long and most importantly, to dress within minutes when in a hurry. However, all women know the struggle of spending minutes in the morning to find the clothing item that will fit her humour and needs for the day or simply finding the perfect one for a day out or for a romantic evening. While not getting what she was looking for, one woman preferred to create her own clothing line to suit her needs and wants.

Laurence Girasa, wife and mother of two, moved to Mauritius five years ago. Originally from Belgium, the latter explains that she was struggling to find outfits adapted to her lifestyle in Mauritius and this is what in a way motivated her to start her own clothing line. “When I arrived in Mauritius, finding an outfit adapted to my daily life as a mum, to the Mauritian climate and to my clothing tastes seemed a little complicated. So I thought very quickly that there was nothing easier than wearing a pretty dress. I started looking for fabrics and I drew my first sketches. I had met Carla, a Mauritian seamstress shortly before and asked her to make my models. When my friends saw my dresses, they asked me to make some for them, too. Then one day, the shop Le Rendez-Vous found at Grand Baie La Croisette offered to sell my dresses. That’s how I decided to create the brand ‘Le Dressing by Boubou’.” 

She shares with us where she got the original name for her clothing line. “Why Boubou? My husband calls me Boubou and that's where the name Le Dressing by Boubou comes from,” she tells us. Laurence worked in different fields before moving to Mauritius. “I worked as a sales representative in a publishing house before I arrived in Mauritius, but before that I did a lot of different jobs. I opened a decoration shop in Brussels, worked as a real estate agent and even worked as a secretary at the European Commission for a few years.”

She states that she always has had a passion for fashion and always dreamed of being an independent career woman. “I have always had a great passion for fashion and the enhancement of femininity. Since I was very young, I have always wanted to work independently, make my own choices, follow my ideas and then share them. I think that's what made me realize my creativity and launch my business.”

Entrepreneurship

The entrepreneur, aged 44, launched ‘Le Dressing by Boubou’ three years back. Laurence is proud to say that the clothes are hundred percent made in Mauritius. “All dresses are 100% handmade in Mauritius.  All the fabrics and supplies I use are from Mauritius and the three seamstresses who make my models are also Mauritians.” She offers a wide range of dresses to her clients. “The brand Le Dressing by Boubou offers a wide choice of short and long dresses, to wear in town, on the beach or in the evening. The entire collection is handmade in small series. New models and prints are available every week.”

She also regularly works according to clients’ demands. “My clients regularly ask me to customize a dress in a fabric that has been used for another model, or to make their dress a little shorter, a little longer, a little wider at the hips, among others,” she explains. 

What inspires her for her colourful and beautiful creations? “To dress up in five minutes and to be feminine in all circumstances is my motto and it is therefore what dominates in my creations.  I choose comfortable fabrics, original prints and models that highlight all types of silhouettes.” 

As wife, mother and entrepreneur, Laurence trusts that it is definitely not that easy for a woman to juggle between her personal and professional life. “Indeed, it is often difficult for a woman to maintain a balance between her professional and private life. Personally, given that I am lucky enough to be able to do what I love, I manage to maintain this balance and be fulfilled.”

Her advice to the youth and women who dream of launching their own businesses but are hesitating: “We often have fears and beliefs that limit us. I would say that it is important to believe in yourself and to assess your skills, while remaining realistic of course, because this allows you to do things that you would not have thought you could do.”