So, let’s just say I have a pretty cool day job.

To make a long story short, a coworker of mine is great friends with Lisa Sun, founder + CEO of Project Gravitas. And what a better team building event for eight fashion-forward, career oriented women than a trip to New York to visit the Project Gravitas factory and offices?

I don’t think there is one.

So last Monday, we boarded the train at Union Station here in DC, hopped off at New York’s Pennsylvania Station and made our way over to one of the last working factories in the city’s famed garment district on 7th Avenue.

When we arrived Lisa and her designer, Henry, were waiting at the door and gave us the warmest welcome.

Lisa started out by telling us her first boss at McKinsey & Company told her she didn’t have any gravitas, and that she should go out and get an entirely new wardrobe—one that was more polished and professional for the workplace. With that anecdote in mind, Lisa and Henry took us upstairs to the factory to show us what we were all lusting after: the clothes.

All of Project Gravitas’ pieces are manufactured in New York, by hand, with Italian fabrics. This allows them to forgo the economies of scale required by many overseas factories—think thousands of units in lieu of hundreds they do here—and thus have a better response time to fashion trends and consumer feedback.

After our factory tour, we headed over to Project Gravitas headquarters where Lisa talked more about her journey. During her life as a consultant, she spent nearly 300 days on the road and moved up the career ladder rather quickly. She credits this to her ability to take criticism well and then use this feedback her to improve herself. In fact, she used to ask coworkers each week for one thing she could improve on, and then she would circle up with that person once she overcame the weakness or acquired the skill needed to improve. (Note to self: start doing this!)

Eventually, she decided to found Project Gravitas as a way to inspire and empower other women in the workplace. This is reflected in everything the company does, including the women of gravitas they name their dresses after.

And—fun fact—they own the patent to sew shapewear into clothing. Talk about adding gravitas—and an instant confidence boost—to your workweek wardrobe or happy hour with the gals.

After our thirty minute chat with Lisa about Project Gravitas, my team and I were all feeling inspired and even more excited to get to the fun part: trying on some pieces from the Project Gravitas line.

You guys, now that I have experienced what it is like to have shapewear built into my clothing, I am not sure there is a going back. Lisa and her team were also fabulous at pulling together styles that matched our body types, and I can’t wait to whip out my new Project Gravitas pieces for big days when I really need that extra boost of confidence from looking my best.

Not to mention, trying on all of the skirts, dresses, jackets, vests, and capes with such a supportive group of coworkers made for an unforgettably fun afternoon.

(You could say the whole thing went a little like this.)

Thanks again to Lisa and her team at Project Gravitas for hosting us for the afternoon! Check back soon for some pictures of the fabulous Clara Dress and Josephine Blazer Cape I picked up.