Mareike Fernandes OF RAY THE COLLECTION
Designed in Stuttgart, Germany and created in India, RAY the collection combines ethics with aesthetics.
Creating our own brand was a long time dream, but it was always clear how the circumstances should be - producing in a safe environment for the people who create the clothes, with paying fair wages, using materials which are sustainable and don’t harm the environment even more.
As half our family is from India, our hearts are closely connected to this amazing country.
After working for 15 years in the textile industry as a designer for various European brands, creating my own brand was a long time dream, becoming more important to me after having my daughter and questioning the way we consume even more. So it was always clear how the circumstances should be: Producing in a safe environment for the people who create the clothes, with paying fair wages and using materials which are sustainable and doesn't harm the environment even more.
As half our family is from India, our hearts are closely connected to this amazing country. In 2018 we took the opportunity to stay for 2 months with our 1 year old daughter Uma Ray and visited NGO's and producers of sustainable fashion. From the very first step it was clear, that we want to start this journey. We were inspired by the people we met and the knowledge and motivation they carried to create something beautiful and ethical together. The brand "RAY the collection", named after our daughter, was born. It should carry a `ray` of light, shining bright and being transparent about the work we do.
We want to create long lasting garments that carry a story and enriches your wardrobe fair and sustainably produced. Quality in the products is as important as quality in the lives of the people who make them. We work with artisans all over India that are valued as experts, not recipients of charity.
We also support NGO's that empower women and families in my husband’s family hometown, Pune. We believe that giving back is an essential part of the work we do.
Our family company and brand "RAY the collection" is a small and humble contribution to move forward in this fashion industry, where the focus should become buy less, quality over quantity and learn more about the fashion industry and production processes. Designed in Stuttgart and created in India, "RAY the Collection" combines ethics and aesthetics.
- Mareike Fernandes, RAY the Collection
