Maggie Marilyn: Clothes That Make Our Hearts Sing in More Ways Than One

You’re young to have such fantastic success. You’ve obviously struck a chord with a generation...
I feel like it is really ingrained in our generation to care about sustainability. We have grown up exposed to climate change and we will be the ones who see the effect it is going to have. Our generation, and even more so the generation below us, are demanding transparency, not just in their clothing but across the board. They want to know why and it’s important for us to share this with them.

You’re proudly representing New Zealand to the rest of the world
I am so proud to be a New Zealander. We have such a special culture and unique view of the world. We may be a small country but we have big stories to tell and I believe our ‘kiwi-ness’ has been a real asset. I can’t imagine not being based in our beautiful corner of the world.

What was the impact of the Duchess of Sussex, Meghan, wearing your designs on her royal visit?
The ‘Meghan effect’ definitely helped with our brand awareness. Women such as the Duchess of Sussex are in a position to start powerful conversations with what they wear so it was an honour to have her support in spreading the importance of sustainability in fashion.

Is there anyone you dream of dressing?
Emma Watson is another incredible woman of influence who has used her clothing choices to highlight sustainable and ethical fashion. But honestly when I see any woman walking down the street wearing Maggie Marilyn it gives me an enormous amount of pride.

Who was the first person you thought was really stylish?
I just remember watching Sex and the City and being captivated by New York and the fashion world. Fashion’s ability to empower women in their everyday lives is not something to be underestimated!

What’s your mantra when getting dressed in the morning?
I always dress to my mood. If I need a bit of a pick-me-up, I love putting on one of our garments that has an uplifting name like our ‘I Believe in You’ dress or ‘Don’t Overthink It’ shirt. I also always repeat outfits, I’ve worn the same blazer to work for the last 3 weeks!

...and for an event?
Red lippy always. If you’re feeling a bit tired red lippy solves everything!

What’s been your biggest style disaster?
I don't believe in style disasters, that's the beauty of fashion, it evolves as we evolve but it always comes back around.

Our Considered edit highlights some of your designs. What steps does your brand take to produce sustainably?
Sustainability is an inbuilt mindset, culture and lifestyle for us; it is at the heart of everything we do. We are acutely aware of the massive social, environmental and economic challenges facing humanity and we are equally aware of the huge impact the fashion industry is having on our planet and its people. I believe in full transparency, caring for and respecting all people in our supply chain and ensuring the health of our beautiful planet is at the forefront of every decision we make. However we still have a lot to learn! By no means are we perfect but every season we aim to do better and we feel excited to accomplish everything we have set out to do in our 2020 Sustainability Strategy.

What do you listen to when you work? What inspires you?
I love to be constantly learning so I am a huge podcast girl. I am continually inspired by others both inside and outside the fashion industry. My go-to podcasts at the moment are ‘Wardrobe Crisis’ by Clare Press and ‘How I Built This’ by Guy Raz.