Experience Unparalleled Elegance with Us...
About...
Meet Dianne C. Lemon, the visionary founder of The WHITTE Shirt Society — the pioneering luxury shirt company that made its debut at the age of 63. This is ENVOI LifeStyle, LLC first project. Dianne's journey is a testament to the timeless pursuit of dreams, proving that true elegance knows no age limits. Her debut collection seamlessly weaves Italian craftsmanship and sourced luxury fabrics and textiles, creating a brand that defies conventions. The WHITTE Shirt Society, under Dianne's guidance, is not just a brand; it's a movement challenging norms and celebrating ageless beauty. Each shirt is a masterpiece, and Dianne invites you to join a transformative journey where every thread tells a story of empowerment and sophistication.
The WHITTE Shirt Society is proud to be the first black woman-owned luxury shirt company. Our shirts are designed to embody the strength and elegance of the women who wear them. With a focus on tailored cuts and shirts that move with a changing body, we provide our customers with both comfort and style. Each piece is thoughtfully crafted with attention to detail, ensuring that our customers radiate confidence in every situation. Experience the luxury of a WHITTE Shirt for yourself and make a statement wherever you go.
"Uncomplicated luxury - Refining the way we dress, shop and live."
Dianne C Lemon
Origin Story
Now Is the time for the true heirs of the cotton boom to show you how it's done. Reclaiming the cotton that broke our backs and bore the scars of the seed.
The WHITTE Shirt Society was created. Class and elegance are true characteristics of the white shirt.
“The History of The WHITTE Shirt - and what it cost - the price was astronomical and cost some everything. ”
—DCL
Where did The WHITTE Shirt come from?
Marie Antoinette is infamous for her lavish, over-the-top fashions. It is the first thing most people associate with the doomed queen — skirts as wide as they are tall paired with towering hairstyles, all draped in jewels and pearls.
She was a fashion icon; if Marie wore a style, the rest of the court — and the Western world — followed suit. She had the power to make or break an entire industry just by deeming something fashionable,
and though it wasn’t her intention, that is exactly what she did. Yet despite all of Marie Antoinette’s extravagant fashions, it was her most unassuming look that changed the world forever. Made famous by Marie Antoinette in 1783, the white shirt has been a staple of elegance, ambition, and grace. Before it was simply seen as a men's shirt and a symbol of wealth for men. Not with Marie, during that time cotton was not seen as a desirable fabric, which didn't bother her she liked being the first. Marie became subject to tremendous scrutiny.
By the end of the century, cotton and muslin had nearly completely replaced silk as the fashionable fabrics of choice. Yet the fall of silk and the rise of cotton had implications that reached much further than the borders of France. The Indian cotton industry could no longer keep up with demand, so Europeans were forced to look elsewhere for their supply. Up until the end of the 18th century, tobacco, rice, and other food products dominated the American agricultural industry. That all changed when the demand for cotton suddenly skyrocketed.
All that was necessary was for the workforce to pick large volumes of cotton so it could be processed by the gin. Of course, plantation owners looked to the cheapest possible option. The boom in the agricultural industry caused a boom in slavery to support it. According to American Slavery: 1619-1877 by Peter Kolchin, “annual cotton production rose from about 3,000 bales in 1790 to 178,000 in 1810, then surged more than twentyfold during the next half-century.” The slave population increased in turn, from about 654,000 slaves in the South in 1790 to over 1.1 million in 1810, a number that skyrocketed to 10-12 Million in total for the next 2 centuries.
After this trendsetting fashion move, the era of King Cotton was born and elevated it ignited the slave trade and the white shirt to its promminence of what it is today.
