Made by Mom Gift Guide: With comfortable, stylish clothing, geekchicfashion encourages body positivity, women in STEM

With degrees from The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania and UNC's Kenan-Flagler Business School. Lysandra Weber worked in marketing for more than a dozen years before deciding to venture out on her own — launching her own clothing business in 2014.

Today, Weber, who lives in Pittsboro with her husband and two kids, is building a brand — geekchicfashion — that aims to serve up comfortable and stylish clothes and support women in their endeavors.

Geekchicfashion is a featured business in Go Ask Mom's annual Made by Mom Gift Guide. Find out more about the business in my Q&A with Weber below. And stay tuned for more Q&As of the mom-owned businesses featured in the 2019 guide!

Go Ask Mom: You've been sewing since you were a child, inspired by your great aunt and mom. How did geekchicfashion get its start?

Lysandra Weber: I was actually taught by my great aunt and mother how to sew. It stuck with me, so in 2013 when I was searching for professional workwear that was both comfortable and stylish and came up empty handed, I decided to design and sew pencil skirts for myself. My coworkers loved them, so I started making some for them as well, and a business was born. After I had my son, I decided to devote myself fully to my business so I could raise him the way I envisioned and pursue my dream simultaneously.

GAM: Your clothes look so comfortable. Tell us about your designs and how people can find you.

LW: I design modern, stylish and comfortable women’s apparel for the busy woman. I use supremely soft stretch fabrics (think yoga pants material for the skirts and lusciously soft lightweight sweatshirt material for the tops). My style has often been described as elevated casual. You can shop my online shop, www.geekchicclothing.com, or visit me at a local pop-up this holiday season (see Instagram for upcoming shows).

GAM: While you make clothing, you're also about supporting women. Tell us about how you encourage body positivity and support women in STEM, or science, technology, engineering and math.

LW: The messages women receive about our bodies often come from media and companies trying to sell you something to make you more this or less that. My business is a part of that industry, so I am incredibly intentional about how I speak to my customers. I'm always making sure to reinforce body positivity and acceptance, to undo negative stereotypes defining beauty and body standards and even, in person, to remind my gorgeous customers how fabulous they already are, just as they are.

My support of women in STEM currently comes through my designs. I select fabric and design pieces with subtly geeky themes so, as women, we can reclaim the title of “geek” without it being an insult and do so in style. My Bioluminescence Skirt, Fractured Linear Skirt and Sector Swing Top are all examples of subtle science + math themes woven into my collection.

GAM: You've been involved in other small businesses during your career. What have been the biggest challenges launching your own?

LW: In other small businesses, there is still a team of people working towards a common goal. In my business right now, there is just me. I’m a one woman shop, so finding time and creating space to accomplish all the daily tasks, maintain my creativity and grow my business is a challenge ... but a welcome one. It forces me to be creative about time management and ask for and accept help, which is not always my strong suit.

GAM: What are your hopes for the future of geekchicfashion?

LW: I hope that geekchicfashion continues to grow and style women across the state and country in styles that make them look and feel beautiful. I’d love to have a studio and showroom where women can come shop and get styling advice and I’d love to grow my team.

Go Ask Mom features local moms every Monday — and even more often in November and December as part of the Made by Mom Gift Guide.