An Interview With Designer Maggie Marilyn
For many young fashion lovers, having a successful career in design would be a dream come true. For New Zealand-based designer, Maggie Marilyn, that dream is a reality. At only 22-years-old and just one year out of college, Maggie's already made a name for herself thanks to her chic, structured designs and commitment to ethical manufacturing. Maggie is gearing up to launch a full collection of white, black and dusty rose garments, sold exclusively on Net-a-Porter.com. Each piece, constructed from silk or denim, is imbued with an air of effortless glamour and a hint of playfulness. What makes her work even more special is how she's created a sustainable supply chain with workers that are paid a living wage — not to mention manufacturing that's environmentally conscious. Maggie spoke with Teen Vogue about her unprecedented success, and what the future has in store for her burgeoning brand. Ahead, read our interview and get your first glimpse at her line hitting Net-a-Porter this month.
Courtesy of Maggie Marilyn1/10Maggie knew she wanted to be a designer from a young age, reading through magazines and immersing herself in fashion imagery. "When I was 13 I went to boarding school and I was extremely homesick. Almost every day after school, I would walk to the newsstand and by a fashion magazine whether it was Vogue, Harpers Bazaar, Elle, Glamour," she told Teen Vogue. "These magazines [were] an amazing escape for me. This was when my true love affair with fashion and luxury fashion houses started."
Courtesy of Maggie Marilyn2/10Growing up in New Zealand, Maggie's exposure to the fashion world was minimal at first. "I was not able to take any fashion or sewing classes, and I would look enviously at international schools where these were available," she laments. The situation didn't deter her. "I still deeply knew I wanted to pursue fashion so it was difficult when I started my first year at university in Fashion Design as I had absolutely no experience with garment construction, pattern making or sewing. So I had to learn very fast, to keep up. I guess my determination paid off."
Courtesy of Maggie Marilyn3/10Maggie graduated college less than two years ago. She found success in a short amount of time, thanks to her focus and drive."When I graduated university at the end of 2015, I knew I wanted to start my own label. I knew exactly where I wanted to go as a brand. I just didn’t know all the roads to lead me there. So, I started my label and built my first collection at the beginning of this year."
Courtesy of Maggie Marilyn4/10Designing a great collection isn't always enough to be successful, though. Your professional network also plays an integral role. For Maggie, everything changed when she met the right person at the right time. "I was introduced to Jo Knight through a mutual friend of ours. Jo was the Managing Director of incredibly beautiful London label Richard Nicoll. Jo and I have an amazing chemistry and she believed in me and the brand. Jo has since come on as the Managing Director for Maggie Marilyn. Our big break came when Jo decided we should go to Sydney Fashion Week, and reached out to her old colleagues at Net-a-Porter."
Courtesy of Maggie Marilyn5/10With her new line, Maggie is trying to save the environment one garment at a time. "I want to build a beautiful and luxurious brand, but luxury to us also means having a brand that is transparent so knowing where our fabrics come from, and where are garments are produced, is extremely important."
She's just as passionate about adequate compensation for garment workers. "These beautiful people who are involved in the production of MM garments are treated with respect and paid a fair living wage."
Courtesy of Maggie Marilyn6/10Since Net-a-Porter is an international retail platform, getting picked up by the site is a huge deal for any new designer. "What's so great about our partnership with Net-a-Porter is that, even though we are based in New Zealand, we are now a global brand. We are accessible to everyone and that is something I always wanted," said Maggie.
Courtesy of Maggie Marilyn7/10Maggie names effort, resolve and resilience as her three keys to success. "Hard work and determination are everything. I truly believe if you have a dream and you want it bad enough, hard work, passion and determination will get you there," she says. "There are always tough times, in fact, there are a lot of tough times, but let them drive you more and give you more strength to be the best you can be."
Courtesy of Maggie Marilyn8/10She credits her family with keeping her grounded in the midst of all her success. "Having an amazing support system in my family and my partner Isaac is what keeps everything in balance. Being able to laugh and cry and be ridiculous and make sure you celebrate. My mum and dad are both amazing entrepreneurs that have built a successful business from literally nothing so I have learnt a lot from them over the years," she muses.
Courtesy of Maggie Marilyn9/10No matter what your age or career path, it's important to have a mentor you can turn to for advice. "I think having someone you can lean on and confide in is important," Maggie explains. "I am only 22 so having Jo, George, my partner Isaac and my mum and dad...I am one lucky young woman."
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