MARLO GROVER, FOUNDER OF MARLO BY MARLO
TELL US ABOUT YOURSELF AND YOUR BRAND?
I’m a ballerina with a communications degree. I taught myself to pattern and sew when I was young and fashion has always been a creative outlet for me. I started Marlo by Marlo after realising I had built an audience and demand for the clothes I was wearing and sharing on my personal Instagram page.
I worked in the digital industry for nearly 10 years and it didn't spark joy like fashion design did, so I quit and developed my first collection, Release 1.
Creating my label is about more than just the clothing. It was about creating a community of women that are strong and daring, starting the conversation about sustainability and slow fashion, and proving that you can follow your passions.
WHO IS THE MARLO BY MARLO WOMAN?
Marlo by Marlo is timeless fashion designed for the #NaturallyDaring woman. Featuring transeasonal designs that hero natural fibres, these garments are really about quality and longevity and making the wearer feel confident and unstoppable. The Marlo by Marlo woman understands their impact on the environment and chooses to invest in fashion designed and handcrafted specifically for them. There’s nothing fast fashion about the brand.
TELL US MORE ABOUT YOUR DECISION TO SHAPE MARLO BY MARLO?
Growing up as a ballerina I was obsessed with designing outfits to wear on the stage. I’d sew the most atrocious things when I was younger, but each outfit taught me a thing or two about construction and what not to do on the sewing machine! My first job while I was at university was in fashion PR. I then spent a few years in advertising as a Producer, and finally as a Senior Project Manager in the digital space, designing web experiences for clients. At the time I loathed the digital work but now that I am running my own business (and digital presence for a brand nowadays is a make or break), I am so thankful I can do it myself!
HANDCRAFTED, SUSTAINABLE & LONG LASTING GARMENTS ARE THE CORE TO YOUR BRAND…
Every single garment is handcrafted here in Sydney, Australia. I don’t think consumers understand just how challenging and expensive it is to manufacture in Australia, especially in small quantities. But it's so important to me that we support local business otherwise these skills will eventually all be off shored and the transparency of the production line with get increasingly more difficult.
Half of Release 1, is Ready-to-Wear and 100% made of linen. I have produced small batches in each size to fulfil customer demand rather than oversupply with one third of all mass stock produced by big brands never being sold.
The other half of Release 1 is exclusively Made-to-Order, this means no waste, no landfill, no excess stock of fabrics. Each garment is handcrafted and personalised just for the customer that has ordered it. Using natural fibres in 90% of our collection means at the end of the garments life (in many years to come!) it can break down unlike synthetic fibres.
YOUR BRAND REPRESENTS STRONG WOMEN AND GIVES BACK TO WOMEN IN SMALL BUSINESS. TELL US MORE.
Every garment purchased from Marlo by Marlo contributes to supporting other women in small business. There is a global funding disparity between startups led by men vs women and I want to do whatever I can to change that.
Photography by Madison Blair.
