SOMEWHERE SPECIAL
Maggie Marilyn brings it home
As sustainability and ethical manufacturing are the hottest topics in fashion, it’s more important than ever for brands to walk the walk. Speaking to Maggie Marilyn founder Maggie Hewitt, it’s plain she is not only passionate about sustainable fashion, she’s proactive about it. Having achieved impressive representation in top international stores, Maggie realised in early 2018 that while the stores were clamouring to sell her clothing to their customers, they weren’t so keen on educating them on the sustainability story so integral to the brand. She began working on what would eventually become “Somewhere”, a line of seasonlesss and high-quality wardrobe staples sold direct-to-consumers, newly launched through her website and at her Newmarket studio. With essential pieces such as a T-shirt (which the team prototyped more than 15 times), buttondown shirt, cardigan and round-neck jumper, the collection is centered around the brand’s philosophy that good design can and will last a lifetime. A circularity system, set to launch in 2021, will also allow preloved Somewhere pieces to be remanufactured into new garments when shipped back to Maggie Marilyn HQ in Auckland. The other important factor in the development of the line was cost. The label’s mainline pieces sit at a luxury price-point, because of the hidden expenses of seasonal sampling, complexity of design and use of sustainable fabrics and ethical manufacturing. Feedback from wholesalers and customers highlighted the importance of making the essentials line more affordable. Made of ZQ and Responsible Wool Board certified New Zealand merino wool, GOTS certified organic cotton from India and Turkey, and GRS certified regenerated nylon from Italy, Somewhere still upholds the brand’s standards of traceable fabrics that are kind to the Earth and its people. It’s a savvy next step for the 25-yearold designer on a quest to infiltrate and educate the wardrobes of modern women.