The Value of Good Linen
MARUTSCA.COM is a new, planet-friendly company and we are ready to share our philosophy and products with the world. Marutsca Breitenmoser heads up the creative side of the business and has a longstanding history as a fashion designer. MARUTSCA.COM is a collaborative project with Simon Heesom-green, a fabric manufacturer with three decades of experience to his name.
“Good design really means less of everything. Less, but better, because we concentrate on the essential aspects and our products are not burdened with unnecessary details,” Marutsca says. “It’s all about keeping things pure and simple. Confidence requires knowing yourself and wearing what you feel best in. Minimal is chic – I have the talent to erase details and bring you the essence. I love linen because it goes with every season of the year.”
MARUTSCA.COM has both a male and female collection. However, crossovers do occur as women for example opt to wear the Pirate Shirt in a looser fit, in line with the “boyfriend” trend, Marutsca says. “The biggest difference between the two collections is really in the cut of the garments because of the difference between male and female body shapes.”
MARUTSCA.COM has a staple collection of classics which are always available for purchase, no matter the season. This fits in with their approach of having fewer key items, which works well with their “boardroom-tobeach” concept. Occasionally, they introduce limited collections of more detailed items, which one can pair with the basics for a slightly more intricate look.
“The word ‘sustainability’ has become a buzzword and has lost its meaning. Fashion is unfortunately one of the top earth-harming culprits,” Marutsca notes. Therefore, the brand addresses these issues in five key ways: • Taking responsibility for your workforce by incorporating fair trade and decent payment • Using linen – one of the most eco-friendly fabrics • Producing small quantities that are made to order • Having a versatile collection of basics that showcases conscious style • Concentrating on quality and purchasing less, rather than accumulating trends
“Interestingly, a lot of big fashion houses are closing down because they cannot continue to build businesses by exploiting labour and the planet. This gives smaller, planet-conscious businesses an opportunity to enter the market and be part of making a consciousness shift in the fashion industry.
“People are overwhelmed by the amount of choice out there, as well as the onslaught of marketing. We all hanker for a balance of less impact on the planet, but still more meaningful products. We want to be kinder to ourselves and the planet,” Marutsca says. As such, the brand’s tagline is, “Considered design. Consciously made. Comfortable fit.” They ensure that they live up to this sentiment by understanding which items of clothing are both needed and versatile, and putting their garments through wearability trials before going to production.
When it comes to MARUTSCA.COM collections, they are designed to be “easy to put on, comfortable and geared to combine with what is already in your cupboard ... It has to be practical, but not boring”.
“When the concept excites me, I start working on it. Sometimes a design will just come to me out of the blue and sometimes I have a very clear picture of a particular garment, like the elegantly simplistic kaftan", Marutsca explains about the creative process.
“There should be an understanding of how what we wear is a reflection of ourselves and how we relate to the world around us. There is a beauty and philosophy in the concept of ‘less’. Because of my love for natural fibres, I’m always drawn to linen. I choose the linen and then my designs flow from there," she adds.
Marutsca was introduced to a specific Spanish linen supplier seven years ago, and this is where her linen comes from. “It was love at first sight and I’ve never looked back. It is 100% natural,” the designer says. “The quality of this specific supplier’s linen is sensational – it’s alive, it moves, it flows and takes on your shape, just like your favourite pair of jeans. It feels soft on the skin and improves with time. It has a lovely weight, and yet it is incredibly light to wear. The mill in Spain produces top-quality fabrics. They are also extremely futuristic in their thinking, and support the way fashion is reshaping itself into a more conscious industry.”
As for future endeavours, MARUTSCA. COM plan on introducing a dip-dyeing technique, which will be done in Observatory in Cape Town by a company that derives natural dyes from boiling plants and flowers. “The specific dyeing process is a new adventure for us and we’ll be doing scarves. We are very excited about this. Scarves work well, as they are mostly hand-washed and the colour can stay in longer,” Marutsca says.
Linen is an eco-conscious fabric to use, as it requires approximately 20% less water usage than other fabrics during the production process. It is known to have a natural fade as it does not take to colour well, meaning linens are often kept in their natural state and can be biodegradable when worn out. Pure linen absorbs the sweat and cools you down, but also keeps you warm during the winter months when layered, Marutsca explains. Linen is also known to have antibacterial qualities and calms the skin, making it great for those suffering from allergies and eczema.
Linen is a great, conscious investment in your wardrobe. Consider MARUTSCA.COM your go-to.
For more information, please visit www.marutsca.com.