For sisters Madi Davis and Mackenzie Moore, founders of fashion line
Noble 31, their mom has always been their style icon. It’s one of the reasons they created and named the white denim “Lolo” shirt in her honor.

“Lolo” is Laura Shoppa, and she’s agreed to get in front of the camera with her daughters — she typically stays behind the scenes — to talk about her role in their success with Noble 31, which launched with a spring-summer collection in 2017.

With grandkids and dogs running around Laura’s Fort Worth home, it’s clearly a family affair. Plus, the pandemic enabled the women to get a little closer this past year with Mackenzie moving home from San Francisco before the shutdown. Now, the sisters live just blocks apart and not far from their parents’ home, which they use as a backdrop for many of their fashion shoots. They’ve set up their atelier in the finished-out basement, which includes room for inventory and samples. In the works are some custom pieces including bridal, which soon could become part of Noble 31’s offerings.

A mood board holds lots of photos, sketches and fabric swatches. But Madi and Mackenzie also find inspiration from each other and their mom, such as the addition of a print neck scarf, which Laura wears so well.

“When we were young, she was the one who wanted to make our outfits a little more special,” says Mackenzie. “She’s always curated all her things, from her art to her accessories.”

Madi remembers her mom helping them find something to wear for a dance or a prom and then adding a little extra something, like a special trim. “She didn’t sew, but that didn’t stop her from zhuzhing up our outfits. We learned how to appreciate clothes thanks to
her. We always borrowed a lot of her things, too.”

When it came to starting the business, Laura says that she and her husband encouraged their daughters to go for it. “We saw their passion and wanted them to know they had our support but that it was up to them to make it happen. Laura, who is wearing her namesake shirt with a pair of white jeans, loves the versatility of the collection. “This shirt can be worn as is or even as a light jacket. It’s one-size-fits-all, so it works on everyone.” She talks about their COVID-induced togetherness and smiles. “We ordered a lot of takeout, cooked a lot, and sat on the patio and talked.”

They all decided to push forward with a spring launch. “Our fabric suppliers were thrilled to hear from us, and our manufacturer in New York set up his workers at their homes with sewing machines,” says Madi. “They are like family to us, and we wanted to support them during the pandemic.”

Noble 31’s seamstress is based in San Francisco but travels to Fort Worth to work with clients. “We’re hoping to talk her into moving so we can be even more locally based,” says Mackenzie. “Our big goal would be to have manufacturing take place entirely in Fort Worth.”

With the world opening up a bit more, they’re holding more events to show off the new line, which features wearable pieces including separates perfect for everyday use or special events such as warm-weather weddings. While neutrals remain
a staple, they embrace bold colors such as saturated citrusy yellow and bright peony pink. And they continue to experiment with fabrics such as faux leather.

“It feels good to pick out an outfit and get dressed again,” says Madi. Laura agrees. “I’m extra lucky that I have my daughters’ designs to pick from if I need something to wear.”