LUSCA’S ACCESSIBLE JUMPSUITS MAKE A GLOBAL IMPACT
By: Erica Commisso
Fashion has long been a mirror of society — but LUSCA, the brainchild of designer Toby Morgan, aims to reshape it. Behind its sleek silhouettes and modern aesthetic lies a mission rooted in justice: supporting global efforts to end female genital mutilation, one garment at a time.
Toby Morgan’s legal training taught her how to deconstruct complex problems. She practiced first in appellate litigation and later as a regulatory attorney, but then abandoned law to solve a new problem she encountered nearly every day: women’s clothing. Taking what she learned from the legal industry, she founded a clothing brand called LUSCA, hoping to solve issues she faced every day.
“LUSCA began as a personal frustration with the way women’s clothing was engineered and it evolved into a full-fledged mission to merge beauty, function, and innovation,” Morgan says. The name is inspired by the word mollusca, the phylum of shelled sea creatures. “For me, the shell symbolizes strength, transformation, and protection. Growing up between Jamaica and the U.S., the ocean was a constant in my life, so the name felt like home. Every piece carries a small shell emblem as a nod to that origin, a reminder of resilience and evolution.”
Photo Courtesy of LUSCA
Morgan developed a proprietary magnetic closure for her jumpsuits - a garment she identified as one women often wear uncomfortably - and it has become a feature that is vital to her designs. After years of prototyping and testing various methods, she created a fastener that’s designed to replace traditional zippers, snaps, or hooks, making the jumpsuit easier to put on and take off. Each magnetic fastener is hidden within the seams of the garment, creating a seamless silhouette that opens and closes in seconds, even with one hand. The closure systems carry a utility patent and multiple design patents, and are therefore unique to LUSCA products - and make it easier for those with accessibility concerns to wear each piece.
The clasp is crafted using ultra-thin, pliable magnets, which come together naturally and stay secure without bulk. The closure is positioned a few inches below the navel rather than between the thighs, which Morgan says completely changes the experience of wearing a bodysuit or jumpsuit. “It’’s more than a design detail,” Morgan says. “It’s independence stitched into fabric.”
LUSCA’s purpose is more than just functional fashion, though - the brand also donates proceeds to combat female genital mutilation, which remains a pervasive problem worldwide. “From day one, I wanted LUSCA to stand for autonomy, not just comfort or style, but ownership of one’s body,” Morgan says. “When I learned how widespread female genital mutilation remains globally, I knew our brand could help shine a light on that issue. It felt deeply aligned with our mission: women reclaiming ease, dignity, and control.
Photo Courtesy of LUSCA
“Most recently, we donated 10% of all of our sales to date to The Orchid Project. Our goal is to continue contributing — financially and through visibility — to the network of nonprofits listed on our website, including Desert Flower Foundation, 28 Too Many, Beyond FGM, End FGM European Network, FGM National Clinic Group, and The Orchid Project. Each one plays a different role, from survivor care to advocacy and education, and we want LUSCA to remain part of that ecosystem of change.”
As the brand continues to evolve, Morgan wants LUSCA’s impact in combating female genital mutilation to grow, too. She recognizes that the numbers may not be tangible, but the impact education provides in prevention is vital. “Because we partner with organizations, it’s hard to assign a single number, but the impact is cumulative. Every contribution fuels outreach, protection, and survivor services. In the future, I’d love to explore ways to publish impact data in partnership with our nonprofit allies,” she says. “The brand is still young, but we’re committed to expanding transparency and publishing more detailed impact metrics as we scale. For me, even one woman protected or one survivor supported makes the effort worth it.”