sustainable fashion

the complexities of pricing responsibly made clothing — increase product costs so you can pay workers more, or keep products cheap so that “sustainable” clothes will be more accessible? the designer behind maggie marilyn wrestles with it all.

founded by maggie hewitt, fashion brand maggie marilyn was launched in 2016 with a mantra ‘to make a difference in an industry that was ready for change’. that year mm was picked up by luxury e-commerce powerhouse, net-a-porter. in 2017, they were shortlisted for the prestigious lvmh prize. in 2018 they switched all their wholesale packaging to fully biodegradable cassava root bags and released a sustainability strategy in line with the united nations sustainable development goals. throughout this period wholesalers and buyers constantly urged them to deliver cheaper clothes that would drive more profitability.

for 2020, maggie marilyn, launches somewhere, a direct-to-consumer collection of seasonless wardrobe styles crafted from ethical materials at affordable prices. somewhere, is the name of maggie’s childhood home in the bay of islands, new zealand.

in new york recently, she mentions ellen macarthur’s circular economy and closed loop system as inspiration. somewhere will launch a collection system in 2021, to recycle well-loved items and bring them back to life. ‘buy less, buy consciously, buy forever,’ hewitt toasted.

above > maggie hewitt at homebrook farm, blenheim, new zealand, october 2019

somewhere by maggie marilyn is available online only. [ somewhere collection ] photos courtesy of maggie marilyn