Fast 15: Lauren Stokes

Three years ago, Lauren Stokes kick-started her multimillion-dollar clothing brand with a $20,000 line of credit that she secured with a “pinky promise” made to a local banker and family friend.

The former operating room nurse had no experience in the apparel industry when she started Lauren James, but she did have a strong work ethic and design ideas for dresses she would love to wear.

Stokes discovered a passion for sketching dresses during 10 weeks of bed rest while pregnant with oldest son, Lofton James, 3. She drew sundresses with bows and ruffles and fantasized about wearing them that spring.

Then, Lofton was born weighing only 5 pounds, and Stokes was hesitant to return to long shifts at the hospital after maternity leave was over. “I was like, I’m not really ready to leave this little baby for 12 hours,” she said.

With encouragement from her husband, who had entrepreneurial experience, she decided to pursue fashion full time.

As it turns out, her lack of training might prove to be her ace in the hole for conquering the industry.

“I think our customers love the designs so much because I didn’t study design, and I don’t go into it trying to design for other people,” Stokes said. “I am the customer, and the girls who work for me are the customer.”

Demand has been through the roof since the beginning, revenue is projected to reach between $12 million and $15 million this year, and the LJ brand is sold in 600 stores throughout the country.

In addition to its signature bow-adorned, seersucker dresses, LJ has a full line of products, including outerwear and intricately designed state pride and collegiate T-shirts, hand-drawn by an artist in Alabama — and it has started launching other brands, including Cotton 101.

There is an LJ retail store on Dickson Street in Fayetteville, and Stokes plans to open two more near Dallas this June.

She and husband Lance also have another son, Linden Michael, 1.