Erinn Dumas is the self-taught fashion designer that founded e.Laniese fashion house in 2017. Until 2023, Ms. Erinn Dumas built her fashion brand on the side while she worked full-time as a marketing manager. During this time, e.Laniese was launched as a bespoke clothing line and later converted to a women’s boutique. In November 2025, Ms. Dumas realized her childhood dream and launched her own clothing line, e.Laniese.
e.Laniese is a contemporary women’s fashion brand that offers whimsical, unique, small batch clothing for women that defy fashion’s standards. Each design is offered in sizes S – 3XL and a 34” inseam.
Not only is e.Laniese a fashion forward brand, it’s also age inclusive, size inclusive and ethnicity inclusive. Ms. Dumas created a brand where women of the world are celebrated, which is shown through ethnic diversity of the models she hires. Additionally, customer service and quality are at the hallmark of the company. These two traits have been guiding lights in Ms. Dumas’ personal life and in her previous career as a marketing manager and will continue to be hallmarks of e.Laniese.
While this is just the beginning, e.Laniese will continue to make waves in the fashion industry.
Ms. Dumas holds a Bachelor’s of Science degree in Marketing from Virginia State University and a Master’s degree in Public Relations/ Corporate Communications from Georgetown University.
1. Career Influences
There are four notable women that have influenced my life and entrepreneurship career, including my sister, my aunt, my stepmother and my former supervisor. I’ve listed them here in order of occurrence:
i. My sister, Jenelle Eichler, has been a constant supporter and cheerleader in my life. When I considered transferring from a 4-year university to fashion design school, she encouraged me and took me on self-guided tours of notable fashion schools in NYC. As I prepared for my first fashion show, she brought me food; I was so busy making each piece that I didn’t have time to eat nor cook, so she literally saved me during this time. She continues to work my pop ups with me, and even gave me a role in her educational consulting firm where I can help influence the next generation of fashion designers.
ii. My aunt, Stephany Dinkinis, was my first sewing teacher. After losing my job, I told her I wanted to pursue a career in fashion design, and I asked her if she could teach me how to sew. She embraced my creativity and eagerly agreed to teach me. While she only gave me one lesson, it was a catalytic point that jumpstarted my fashion design journey.
iii. My stepmother, Leslie Robinson, was the first person to hire me to make custom clothes for her. After making the first blouse, she hired me to make three more. Her willingness to take a chance on me spoke volumes and it gave me the courage I needed to move forward.
iv. My former supervisor, Alexa Tsui, was the first supervisor in corporate America that truly saw me. She showed me that women can lead with emotional intelligence, while bringing their full selves in business. Her willingness to be herself, in the C-Suite no less, showed me that I could do the same. As I continue to lead, I lead with emotional intelligence as Alexa aptly demonstrated.
Without these women, I wouldn’t be the woman, leader or entrepreneur that I am today. Their constant love and encouragement continues to make waves throughout my life, and I pass on this love and encouragement to my students and fellow small business owners.
2. Biggest Career Success
My biggest career successes to-date are launching my clothing line and registering my brand with the USPTO.
Ever since I was a little girl, I always dreamed of having my own clothing line and I made that dream come true in November 2025. The second career accomplishment was registering my brand with the USPTO, which I received in September 2025. This is a HUGE accomplishment because all businesses that apply to register their trademark with the USPTO, do NOT get approved, so for e.Laniese to be part of that elite group is sensational.
3. Recent Lessons Learned
Two recent lessons I learned are 1) don’t rush the process, and 2) the meaning of the phrase “Your network determines your net worth”.
With a particular piece [of clothing] in my fall collection, the manufacturer and I rushed the process and the garment was made incorrectly. They did not heed my specifications and because we were rushing, I missed the chance to push back. When I received the bulk order and realized that my feedback was ignored, and that the manufacturer didn’t care (meaning they wouldn’t redo the product correctly), I was livid. Now I’m stuck with almost 100 units of a garment that I hate. Based upon this one error, I will not rush the process ever again; I will take my time.
Secondly, I finally understand the meaning of “Your network determines your net worth”. It’s a term that we often hear, but we never see it in action. In year 3 of e.Laniese, I was at a crossroads. Online sales were dismal and I was tired of exhibiting at pop ups, my main source of revenue. Something had to give and I didn’t know what. I saw the online traffic to my website, but no conversions. One event sparked a trajectory of growth.
Long story short, at this event I learned that a woman within my network was the director of operations at a seven figure eCommerce brand. As a result of that one event, I started diving into my data and connecting with people in my network to grow e.Laniese. While the growth is still occurring, much positive change has occurred since that one fateful event, and e.Laniese is catapulting into the stratosphere.
4. What inspires and motivates you?
My faith inspires me. I know that being an entrepreneur and a fashion designer is what God has called me to do. To do what I’m called and what I love is a blessing.
I’m motivated by my customers and the women all around the world that struggle to find clothes that fit their unique body types. I built e.Laniese for them and I will continue to make high-quality, statement pieces that will accentuate their varied silhouettes.
5. Share a leadership story.
e.Laniese’s story, like many other fashion houses, started from a need. As a young adult, I struggled to find clothes that fit my lean frame. I often resorted to cinching the waist of my shirts so they could contour my waist better.
In 2013, after being terminated from my marketing job, I decided to take matters into my own hands, literally, and start making the clothes I wanted to see. It was this devastating act that propelled me into action and e.Laniese was born.
6. Your Top Two ( quotes or words of wisdom )
1.“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.” Proverbs 3:5
i. Being a fashion designer was a childhood dream, but as I grew up I lost that dream. As I built a career in marketing, I always felt a tug back to fashion. God has always brought me back to fashion and I’m the happiest I’ve ever been. When we trust in God, we can live out our best and happiest lives.
2.“Everything you need is within you!” – Erinn Dumas
A lot of times we think that we have to go to external sources to make our dreams come true, but we have everything within us to pursue our dreams. It often gets pushed down, we face societal pressures, we deal with fear, doubt, etc., and that’s what prevents us from reaching our true potential. If we understand that we hold the power, then and only then do we become unstoppable .
7. Contact Erinn Dumas for more information!
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