As a fifth-generation rancher from West Texas, Lee Evans Lee embodies the “work hard, play hard” mentality. Currently based in San Antonio and Aspen, Lee’s daily style finds her switching between comfort for ranch life and upscale elegance for both work and play. She grew tired of dealing with multiple daily wardrobe changes and sacrificing style for function, and decided it was time to create something new. With a passion for textiles and design, Lee created Mrs Momma Bear (MMB), revolutionizing everyday apparel with a unique blend of designer style, activewear comfort, and machine-washable convenience. Her vision is to empower others to take on whatever life brings with confidence and comfort, without compromising on style or elegance. Lee is deeply committed to giving back, integrating charitable initiatives into her work and ensuring that MMBis a force for positive change in the community.
Lee Evans Lee Questionnaire
Q. What inspires you creatively, both within fashion and beyond it?
A. Honestly, everything. Outside of fashion, nature is probably my biggest inspiration. Right now, the colors and sky blues in Wellington, Florida are really catching my eye as I spend time there during the winter polo season. There is always a pop of red or pink in a flower that I find myself trying to match, and in my upcoming Elements collection coming out this year, there is a sky and floral print inspired directly by landscape photography. b. In fashion, I move between ultra-luxury and super boutique designers. Most recently, I’ve been working with a fun Texas handbag designer, Allie Azzaro, who hand-sews every one of her handbags. The courage it takes to be a designer and a creative is like nothing else. You put your imagination, the things you love most, out there for people to see every day and keep doing it regardless of critics, purely for the love of design. I always love incorporating those designers into my everyday style.
Q. How would you describe your personal fashion style, and how does it influence your designs?
A. I move constantly, and I don’t know many women who don’t move through a million different roles and places every day. That really dictates my designs. I’m always thinking about how I would change, add to, or tweak one of my gowns, past suits, or current MMB collections to bring a sexier version to the table, or create a more comfortable top that can take you from the grocery store, to work, to carpool, to walking the dog. You name it. b. In New Beginnings, which is coming out soon, I played more with a slimmer legging-style pant than my typical trouser, moving into spring and summer and pushing it more toward a run pant rather than a traditional work pant. Everything is always evolving. Right now, I’m working on a super sexy V-neck winter jumpsuit, so my mind is constantly playing with silhouettes.
Q. What has entrepreneurship taught you since launching your brand?
A. Entrepreneurship has taught me that things take time. It really is a marathon, not a sprint. You have to have a long brain, the way you think about long and short stocks, and entrepreneurship is about holding long, very long. There are so many ups and downs, and on most days there are more losses than wins, but every loss gets you closer to the win that helps you turn the corner. It’s the ultimate Warren Buffett–style compounding strategy, just applied to being an entrepreneur.
Q. Can you share the vision behind your new collection and the elements that make it truly unique?
A. The vision behind New Beginnings was to introduce women to my prints and really play with the contrast between glamour and sport. I designed cape tuxedo jackets paired with my first-ever MMB sport tanks and sport leggings, which feature tuxedo elements down the leg. It’s extreme glamour meeting everyday sport, coming together in the middle to create that signature, glam MMB look, all made in our same performance fabric. b. My custom blend of Lycra and nylon gives the polish of silk, the comfort of pajamas, and the look of a custom-made suit.
Q. What’s next for Mrs. Momma Bear, and what message do you hope women take away from your brand?
A. The biggest takeaway is this: I design for all women. That has been the mission of this brand since day one. I grew up on a budget and came from humble beginnings, and that perspective is woven into everything I create. When I launched the brand, inflation was at an all-time high, followed by tariffs and continued economic uncertainty. While there has been a brief lull in extreme change, not to say there is not more on the horizon; my goal has always been to build MMB as an accessible luxury brand. I work toward that every single day by accepting lower margins, refusing to compromise on quality, and partnering with platforms like Walmart to make sure there is not a woman out there without an MMB piece in her closet that makes her feel empowered. When I host trunk shows, there is nothing like watching a woman put on one of my designs and seeing her eyes light up. I design for the woman who wears MMB and no one else. That will always be the case.
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