Every iconic brand has an origin story. A clothing line that may dominate today’s department stores may have started as a small business run out of a fledgling fashion designer’s living room. While launching your own clothing line is challenging, thanks to e-commerce and online marketing, it just might be possible to turn a brand that began in a small online store into a clothing brand that’s beloved nationwide. Let’s learn today from LaKyra Broadus who is a newbie in fashion e-commerce.
My name is LaKyra Broadus, CEO of Boughetto Boutique LLC. I am 26 years old and from Los Angeles California. I am the oldest of three siblings. I graduated Spring 2020 from UNLV with my B.S in Human Services. I am currently attending GCU and will be receiving my M.S in Mental Health & Wellness. I love watching crime documentaries, eating seafood, and getting dressed up! I am always trying to learn new skills to make myself a better educator from learning sign language to finding out how I can give back as a future Mental health counselor. I started Boughetto (booj-etto) because I love sexy clothes and I have always wanted to start my own business making clothing.
What are your plans going forward and for growth?
In the short term, one of my goals is to continue developing Boughetto as a brand. I would like to continue providing custom Boughetto pieces, increasing my selection for customers. One of the things I have not spoken about yet is about custom work I have been doing behind the scenes. Initially, when I thought of Boughetto I wanted to make new sexy custom clothing out of old clothing! I still would love to do that which is why I have been working more closely with my sewing machine. I will be partnering next year with another clothing company to do this together. I would like a storefront in a couple of years but I plan to continue developing the brand before jumping right on that.
How did the company start?
Boughetto has been in the works for years but I never took it serious enough until I was laid off three times in one year. I hated that I was faced with stress because I didn’t really have a backup plan. I noticed everyone who had a business wasn’t stressing as much as I was. I decided to use the savings I built up to start the process of Boughetto. I actually started doing several different hobbies and my boutique came out on top. I discussed it with my boyfriend who owns his own business and it motivated me even more to start my own. I was quiet for months working on clothing designs, the studio set up, and building my website. Once I knew Boughetto was happening I gathered a small team to help me with photos, marketing, and finances.
Do you have any advice or any message for all the people out there that dream to start a business?
Do your research! And be very patient about announcements. Sometimes you are so excited about telling the world about what’s coming and what you are doing, but honestly being quiet has been my secret weapon! You should do your research so that you know exactly how you want your products and business to be perceived. Truthfully no-one wants to hear “coming soon” or “I want to do this”. People react better when they had no clue this was going on. If you are looking to start a business wait as many years or months as you have to until it is quality you are putting out! If you want to start a business remember you have one chance to launch for the first time. Make sure that the first time is executed well! Don’t announce you are doing nails if you are still in your trial phase. Find like 3 friends or family members very close to you and practice on them. Tell them don’t take pictures because you aren’t where you want to be yet. People pay attention to quality, they want to see the grind but they gravitate more when they see what they like.
What has been the biggest obstacle you have faced so far as a business owner?
The biggest obstacle I have faced has been being patient once starting my business. I was very patient during production but now that it’s out there I have been working hard every day to see more financial growth. As a business owner, you are spending soo much money the first couple of years which is tough because it doesn’t always come back.
What is a skill you think all women should learn and why?
I think all women should have a side hustle or a hustle period! Do what makes you happy and always have your own. Everyone wants to say they’re a boss but to be a boss you have to be confident, courageous, resilient, and honest. I understand not everyone wants to work but ladies don’t let anyone be your plan or backup plan.
Where do you get your inspiration from daily?
My inspiration comes from my past! That sounds strange but really it does. I don’t want to be like anyone I know because I didn’t have anyone to look up to. I didn’t come from a home that I was happy to be in every day. As a teen, I played sports because it helped me work through my personal trauma. Now that I’m an adult I can make boss moves to inspire others. I have worked through that trauma as a little girl and being a boss makes me feel amazing every day.
What traits do you look for when building a team?
When building a team I needed people who were going to go as hard for my brand as if it was their own! My team consists of the people closest to me like my little brother, sister, mom, friends, family, and boyfriend. These people have all showed loyalty to the brand since day one of me announcing it to them! I love my team they are all supportive, honest, and trustworthy.
What makes your business unique?
Boughetto is unique because we make sexy custom clothing you won’t get anywhere else. We are a black-owned business who handles all branding and financial responsibilities without any outside resources! We also offer custom clothing for both men and women.
How do you stay motivated?
I stay motivated by continuing to work because I know my brand has a bright future ahead. I have to win because I see no other way out. I am persistent when I want something and start on it. I have always been the go-getter and overachiever and I know this is just the beginning of what I can do.
What is in store for the future of Boughetto Boutique?
Boughetto will be one of the hottest Boutique’s on your Instagram platform! We promise to continue giving authentic sexy pieces you won’t get at any other boutique. You can follow us @boughetto.la and sign up for our mailing list to stay updated on all Boughetto Boutique exclusives.
![From Music to Perfume: How did your background as a music teacher influence your transition into perfumery, and how do you incorporate your musical sensibilities into creating fragrances? I’ve always thought in terms of metaphors, and music has many that can be related to perfumery! Beyond just thinking in terms of top, middle and base notes [soprano/alto/tenor in choir], I approach each fragrant idea as a composition. When documenting my ideas, song structures often come to mind. As the scent brief is visited, I meditate on what the fragrance should convey - do I want to create an accord or a “chord” of fragrance note combinations? Do I want an a capella soloist (a particular ingredient to stand out more than others?) Many of my thoughts regarding song composition transfers to my scent formulation process, with me treating each note as an intentional soliloquy at some point.
Brand Origin: What inspired you to start Pink MahogHany in 2005, and how has your vision for the brand evolved since its inception?
An avid lover of all things pleasantly scented (with slight modesty), looking back in retrospect, it’s no huge surprise that I’ve created an indie perfume house with just an idea to provide unique options for those who may be sensitive to unnecessary pungency. Initially, I just wanted to evaluate various blends to note their aroma profiles when “played” together…it wasn’t until I had friends and family asking if I knew of brands that catered to those who may be on the more olfactory sensitive side, that I really began to take my research more seriously. In the almost 20 years that Pink MahogHany has been in existence, our micro visions for the brand have evolved to larger territory. Where Pink MahogHany used to only be a personal brand, we are now also a bespoke formulation service provider to other indie brands seeking unique fragrance offerings for their products. These products range from (but are not limited to) perfumes, candles, body butters and lip balms. Ingredient Transparency: You emphasize transparency and the use of desirable ingredients in your products. How do you select your ingredients, and what challenges have you faced in maintaining this standard?
Being an indie brand often comes with a set of assumptions and misconceptions - one of them being more negative than positive as it relates to ingredients used. There is a lot of “fluff” in the industry with labeling falsification. Because fragrance formulas are a trade secret, not every molecular breakdown of a material has to be noted on the ingredient label (it would be incredibly long), but we at Pink MahogHany™️ adhere strongly to the IFRA [International Fragrance Regulatory Association] regulations that state for common and potential allergens to be listed on our ingredient label. We’ve taken this a step further to also include these ingredients listed on our website to promote further transparency, all while protecting our intellectual property. Unfortunately, we’ve had companies to unethically sell lesser expensive “dupes” of our artisan perfumes, so as a way to create a better authenticity stamp, we make it our duty to be honest about our claims. If our perfume says “Rose Bulgaria”, it is in fact just that and not a component of rose being passed off as the source material. Collaborations and Custom Scents: Can you share more about your work with private label clients? What excites you most about creating custom scent solutions for other indie brands? I could easily sum this up in one word and say “Funding.” True, there is money out there, but I’m always thinking outside the box. Having a program that has an “Each One Fund One” mentality doesn’t exist (that I’ve been made aware of). Bootstrapping can be quite the challenge, even when you’ve reached the 6-figure mark annually. Competition to be seen and set apart is extremely high, so having quality packaging and branding is a must. There are lots of factors to consider, though when desiring to make upgrades. If there were a unique, tier-geared funding operation available, it would help perfume brands offset packaging and bulk material costs in the beginning stages.
Industry Challenges: What are some of the biggest challenges you've faced as an independent fragrance house, and how have you overcome them to grow your brand? As the brand continues on the path of organic growth, I would like to expand our reach into schools, offering perfumery as an arts elective for middle and high school. I’d love to partner with botanists, farmers and horticulturists directly to grow and source raw materials for the students to work with in the creation of tinctures. My passion is getting back to nature as best as possible, as nature was my first “scent experience” as a child. We would also love to witness our fragrance creations being used to scent model homes, our focus diffuser blends being used in automobile dealerships as well as partner with Air Bnb and boutique hotels that specialize in highlighting minority, indie brands. Personal Journey: How has your personal experience, particularly as a divorced mother and someone who has experienced the loss of a child, shaped your approach to life and your work in perfumery?
Because I homeschool my twin sons, we are together a lot more than most, so one thing we all do is have moments of sharing where a neutral “floor” is laid to converse about anything. Though they are quite communicative by nature, I realize that sometimes I can be in work mode so much that it spills over into what should be our quality time. My sons see the authentic me and learn how to communicate through seeing authenticity. I’ve learned not to feel as if I have to be the epitome of perfection but allow them to see my imperfections vulnerably but with discernment. Having had two traumatic experiences pretty close together has taught me how to truly slow down and enjoy the simplicities of life - igniting a spiritual aspect that I’ve always carried but never fully explored…until Kenji’s sudden passing (2018.) Grief has a way of catapulting us into a quest for more meaningfulness in both life and business. After Kenji’s passing and my processing through the initial stages of grief, I was able to incorporate our spiritual bond into Pink MahogHany by way of essential oil diffuser blends for both focus and sleep and most recently aromatic perfume elixirs. It’s been quite the process channeling the void of his physical presence, but I also have peace knowing he can be honored in a great way through scent. I noticed once I began to be more open and receptive to spiritual signs, synchs and “winks”, more ideas began to flow. It’s been this way since his transition. Emotional Expression: Fragrance is often tied to memories and emotions. How does your personal life influence the fragrances you create, and do you have a particular scent that holds special meaning to you? My creative process is much more alchemic now, and I include Kenji by talking out loud to him, believe it or not. I’m a firm believer that when our loved ones transition from the physical plane, they are still present - just in another form. I choose to keep his memory alive by not pretending he never existed (even if for a brief period of time). I am working (slowly) on a book and accompanying fragrance, but I know it will require me to revisit some memories I’m not quite ready for, so until then, his big brothers will launch their debut fragrance, The Peaceful Tiger (they chose the name.) I’ve learned that even in what we consider “small things”, our transitioned loved ones want to be recognized and acknowledged. When the twins and I designed their fragrance label (with a designer out of the country that didn’t know anything about me personally), we had issues with the graphic - so much so that the designer asked if they could rework the design. When they sent the proof for approval, the Tiger was not only younger but sleeping, with an uncanny, angelic resemblance to baby Kenji! Becoming more aware and being more sensitive to my intention for launching a fragrance has definitely made room for more divine situations like these to occur. Healing Through Scent: In what ways has creating fragrances been a form of healing or expression for you, especially after the loss of your son, Kenji Mwamba? I know my sons may not necessarily want to be perfumers, but they definitely have an entrepreneurial heart. My desire is that whatever they decide to pursue (acting, script-writing, music or architecture), they know that anything is possible with the right amount of determination, grit, belief and immersion. One reason I chose to homeschool is so they could enjoy learning without restraint and have ample time to devote to their own separate passions and it still be fun. They know Pink MahogHany is theirs if they want it (many, many years from now - lol), and we are already discussing business structures for whatever they choose their role to be once I retire. Work-Life Balance: How do you find balance between your professional responsibilities and personal well-being, and what self-care practices do you prioritize? I’m not just a perfumer; I’m also a consumer, and self-care is huge for me. I often take salt baths to reset my energy and clear my mind after being around large groups of people or free a long day. I’m a habitual perfume sampler, and I have so many to choose from to wear as my “nightcap.” Even if just for 10-15 minutes, I cherish each moment I’m able to have some “me-time.” When time and co-parenting schedules permit, I’m definitely on a flight somewhere to indulge in some delicious food and mouth-watering mocktails!](https://www.womenontopp.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/IMG_3812-1200x720.jpeg)
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