A founder-led brand that informed the creation of MANTIS New York. Relaunching in 2026 as an incubator under the MANTIS New York umbrella.

With New York State on PAUSE during the Covid-19 pandemic, Sara Armet launched Lady & The Chocolate®—a fashion-forward confection brand rooted in storytelling, social media, and experiential retail.

Oversized chocolate bark with a larger-than-life point of view served as both product and personality. Word quickly spread of a 24/7 chocolate dispensary on the Upper East Side, drawing chocolate lovers from across the city and beyond for a drive-by visit, a taste, and a moment of connection. Transforming isolation into shared experience, the brand was featured in TIME Magazine, Thrive Global, and The New York Post.

Fueled by community demand, Lady & The Chocolate was crowdfunded to spearhead production and operations, then brought to market through both direct-to-consumer and wholesale channels. Launches at Saks Fifth Avenue and Bergdorf Goodman—alongside partners including Kirna Zabete and Wynn Resorts—shaped Armet’s firsthand understanding of what brands truly need to succeed in brick-and-mortar environments.

Lady & The Chocolate proved that even in constrained conditions, brands with a clear point of view, cultural fluency, and physical activation can generate demand, visibility, and loyalty. These early insights directly informed the creation of MANTIS New York and now serve as the foundation for LATC’s relaunch as an incubator in 2026.

Lady & The Chocolate is an affiliated portfolio brand.