We talk with MAES London's very first employee about what makes manufacturing such an exciting role in fashion and the art of problem-solving  

Have you always been interested in fashion? 

Yes, since I was little. My mum used to make most of our clothes and that always inspired me. She taught me how to use a sewing machine and I started making my own clothes when I was a teenager.

You are originally from New Zealand, what inspired you to move to London? 

I felt like I needed a new challenge - the fashion industry is quite small in New Zealand and I knew there would be new opportunities waiting in London.

You were the first employee at MAES London, what drew you to the idea of working at a new manufacturing business?

It was a chance to work with a wide variety of brands, I have also worked with new brands previously, so was familiar with what was entailed. What I enjoy most is that it really feels like a family when you are a part of something from the beginning - you get to see it grow.

What makes MAES London different from other manufacturers?

One aspect that stands out are all the creative minds within the business, I think that really sets us apart by giving us the ability to provide an innovative approach to manufacturing.

 

What has it been like to see the company grow so quickly? 

It’s been kind of crazy! I did not expect this level of growth in this short space of time. Career-wise, it has been an amazing learning experience for me and really rewarding to see how far we’ve come together.

Can you explain your role at MAES London? 

I am the Technical Designer which means I am the main point of contact for clients during the development and pre-production phases. I work closely with our clients in fittings and technical handovers to ensure that our team is producing beautiful, high quality and on-spec garments in the most efficient and cost-effective 

 

 

What do you love about the process of making clothes?

I am fascinated by the technical aspect and problem solving. There are so many ways to construct a garment and we have so much experience in our team, it’s amazing to see those years of experience come out to solve a problem and produce a beautiful garment. 

Your favourite fashion designer?

So many spring to mind! Probably Christophe Lemaire, a French designer who has worked in the past for brands like Mugler and Hermes and heads his own label Lemaire with his partner Sarah-Linh Tran. I love their sense of easy, refined luxury combined with timeless silhouettes, - I’m always a fan of a muted colour palette.

Three things guaranteed to put you in a positive mood? 

Chocolate, a good laugh and Mariah Carey.

A career highlight to date? 

That’s a tough question as there have been so many highs! Moving into our new studio in December last year was one for sure, mostly because it came at the end of a really tough year due to the pandemic. It felt like an incredible achievement that we had still managed to expand.