How the Problem Sparked a Solution

Meet Lisianna
CEO, Founder, and Inventor of The Coat Carrier

I travel a lot, both for business and pleasure. Over the years, I've found that finding a place to put my coat is a constant struggle. When I looked around the airport, I saw others sharing my struggle: coats draped over arms, left behind on seats, or stuffed into a carry-on; the latter leaving no room in your bag and a wrinkled coat.

Once at my destination, I'm often in and out of meetings, getting in and out of cabs and on and off the subway, and moving from place to place--needing to take my coat off and put it back on multiple times a day.

I knew there was a need for a carrying device that would allow me and others to carry a coat, as well as other personal items, when not in use. It needed to be more than a bag. I searched online for something I could slip my coat into that would keep it wrinkle-free and easy to grab. I also wanted something I could attach to my carry-on instead of just another thing to hold. I came up empty. Garment bags galore, but not what I needed.

From Dream to Design

I decided that if this was something I wanted, other travelers would agree. Channeling my fashion designer mother, I dusted off my sewing machine and put together what would be the very first Coat Carrier. The materials weren't great, the quality was what you'd expect, but it worked! On my next business trip, I went to the airport with my Coat Carrier. Once inside, I placed my coat, briefcase, and umbrella inside, slipped the loops over my carry-on handle, and got through security and to my gate in record time. No more draping my coat off the sides of my rolling luggage to get tangled in the wheels or sweating with it on to free up my hands.

So many people stopped me along the way, "Where did you get that?!" This solidified my notion that this was a pain point for more than just myself.

I enlisted the help of the smartest and most capable women I know to turn my little sewing project into a real product. There, Sianna Fashions was born.

More than an Accessory

I knew that I couldn't just be selling a product without some purpose behind it. Many years as a single mother opened my eyes to the challenges that many youth, especially those of color and from disadvantaged backgrounds, face when entering the workforce. Whether it's access to higher education, affordability of office-appropriate attire, or resume-building and interviewing skills, there is a huge gap in opportunity.

There are so many organizations already doing the work to shrink this gap with little to no funding. The team at Sianna Fashions knows that existing nonprofits need the resources and funding to achieve the goals that we are so passionate about. That's why, before we ever made a single carrier, we decided that the mission would drive everything we do: a portion of each sale donated to these important causes.

I want you to love your Coat Carrier, but I hope you love what your purchase does even more.