INTERVIEW #23 MURBY

Photo: @saratonning

Based in: Oslo, Norway.

Founded in: 2020

Founded by: Marie Pedersen Murby

Website: www.murbydesigns.no. The website can also be seen in two languages; Norwegian and English.

Instagram: @murbydesigns

Price range: 750NOK-1500NOK

 Why we love her: Marie Pedersen Murby is bringing Disco back to the people and WE LOVE IT! Her designs are truly amazing, you can really see the eye she has for details on every single item. There is glitter, color and disco vibes, and we want to lay our hands on everything! 

“For me, clothes are about identity and a creative way of expressing oneself, and that was what I wanted to bring into my brand.”

What is Murby and why did you start?

Murby designs is a creative brand founded by 19 year old Marie Pedersen Murby. Ever since I was little I’ve been passionate about being creative and expressing myself. It could be anything from beading to ceramics and drawing. I heard from an early age from family and friends that I’ll be working with something creative and not necessarily take the “A4” path. When I was in fifth grade in primary school I discovered the “fashion world”, another way to express myself! I felt like everyone was dressed the same, and I thought that was boring.  I’ve always liked to stand a bit out of the crowd. In the clothing stores I could never find colourful and “glitter” clothing, I felt like it was a lack of clothing that stood out in the crowd. As a young girl I loved princesses, mermaids, pink and all glittery things! So that is what I longed for in clothing for “teenagers”. 

When I was 15, I got monoculose and later Cfs. This is when I truly understood how much handcrafts/being creative meant to me. When I had to apply for upper secondary school, I knew that I had to do something creative, so I decided to go for the program «Design and textile». In that program you are learning how to sew, which I’ve never had done before, but I liked the idea of learning another way to express myself and making my own clothes. I thought it was so inspiring and fantastic that I could finally learn how to make everything myself and  make my ideas come to life. 

 After two years behind the sewing machine both at school and at home, I got a great desire to share my passion with others. I’ve been sewing so much, and I felt like I have to take this to another level. I loved the idea to sew clothing for other people with as much love as I would sew for myself. For me, clothes are about identity and a creative way of expressing oneself, and that was what I wanted to bring into my brand. 

During the lockdown at the beginning of the Corona pandemic 2020, I decided to take the first step. I wanted to establish my own brand, and thus start my own solo entrepreneurship. When I was going to establish my own brand, I wanted it to reflect who I am. For me, it has always been important to wear clothing that makes me happy and a creative way to show who I truly am. So that's exactly what my brand is! Happy clothes, in happy colors, something that stands out in the crowd and something you feel good in! My clothing is my fantasy I had as a child; Mermaid, princess, disco glittery vibes! I want the people who’s wearing my brand to channel their inner disco princess

How are the products produced and where do you source the fabrics?

It’s important for me to be as sustainable as I can, I want to leave the smallest footprint I can on this world. As a designer I know how cruel and toxic the fashion industry already is. I’m sourcing my fabrics from my local fabric shop and their manufacturer is from England so I know their fabric is being produced under ethical circumstances, which is important to me. I’m sewing made to order, which means that I only sew to orders. I’m not mass producing my designs, because I want to be as sustainable as I can and leave the smallest impact I can when it comes to fabric scraps. I’m only buying the exact amount of fabric I need for each order. After a lot of orders, I had a lot of scraps laying around, and I decided to give them a new life, and that’s how my swimsuit collection was made! A whole collection made out of fabric scraps, how nice isn’t that?

“My clothing is my fantasy I had as a child; Mermaid, princess, disco glittery vibes! I want the people who’s wearing my brand to channel their inner disco princess.”

Where does Murby find its inspiration?

I find my inspiration everywhere! In the streets, at concerts, holidays, tv shows, runways and Pinterest! I also have to say that all of the disco collections are what I longed for when I was a kid. So many of my ideas/inspiration also come from my childhood. I think it’s so fascinating how people are expressing themselves through clothing!  The clothing a person is wearing can tell you so much about themselves as a person! I love seeing how different people in the city are getting dressed, and that really inspires me! When it comes to colors, to textures and to the shaping. One day I was in the city and I saw a girl wearing a pair of glitter pants! And ever since that I couldn’t stop thinking of it! I later found out that the Danish brand Sakspotts made the exact pants I saw in the city that day! My inner child went wild when I saw the fabrics they were using! As a designer I think it’s important to get inspired from others rather than copying designs and hiding where you get your inspiration from. I’ve taken inspiration from their fantastic fabrics and the stitching on their pants! I’ve drafted/constructed every single pattern myself and I’m currently working with a new collection with much more complex design I wanted my two first collections to be “basics” so they could be versatile and a “must” in every single wardrobe! But now I want to design some more fun garments with a lot of details going on.

What have been and are the major challenges?

There have been a lot of challenges on my journey! I’m only sewing with the customers measurements because I don’t think the sizing in clothing stores is right. I don’t want people to be “labelled” or feel bad about themselves because the sizing can be so different from brand to brand. In one store you could be an Extra Small and in another store you could be a Medium. I want people to feel empowered and strong, and not blind by labels and sizes. I’ve struggled so much with making the right sewing patterns. As I sew all my items based on the customers measurements, there is a lot to adjust between each customer because every single body is different. And this can be hard sometimes, because I want the garments to be flattering on their body in every single angle. There have been a lot of trying and failures. Sometimes it has also been hard to be running a small business all by myself, because I’m responsible for everything, like orders, sewing, cutting, website, marketing, economy etc. But I’ve gotten a lot of help from my boyfriend recently, because he helps me with the economy part. I figured out that you learn as long as you go.

“After a lot of orders, I had a lot of scraps laying around, and I decided to give them a new life, and that’s how my swimsuit collection was made! A whole collection made out of fabric scraps, how nice isn’t that?”

Photo: @saratonning

 What has been the largest gain up until now?

I’ve achieved so much the last few months! I’ve been interviewed by @melkoghonning (Norway's biggest website for fashion news) and some other newspapers, I’ve also been doing some commissions for TV shows and Anniken Jørgensen (@annijor) have also been wearing my garments! I’ve so many great and exciting Things coming for me! I’m working hard everyday because I want to be seen as a designer. I’m putting all of my time and love into this. I’m so passionate about what I’m doing.

“As a designer I think it’s important to get inspired from others rather than copying designs and hiding where you get your inspiration from.”

What do you think needs to change now in the fashion industry to make it more sustainable? 

There is a lot to wrap your head around when it comes to the fashion industry. The fashion industry is the second largest polluter in the world, not only that but there's also so much wrong with the ethics and rights when it comes to the employers/workers. This is nothing that can be changed overnight, but we have to start somewhere. First of all I think it’s important to start showing the reality of fast fashion to the people, sharing knowledge and facts. There are so many people that don't know that this is an ideal problem, because you barely hear anything about it and there are few people that are actually interested in where their clothing is made. After people have opened their eyes, I think it’s important to show sustainable options! For example showing that it's trendy and the new «it» to thrift, to swap clothing and to buy second hand! 

I think it’s also important to lay a «pressure» on the fast fashion industry and demand a change, Even though that’s easier said than done. But I think we as individuals can make a change if everybody does the best they can when it comes to consumption and understanding the damage of fast fashion.

What would you advise consumers to do who seek to create a sustainable closet and lifestyle?

I recommend people first and foremost to be aware of how the fast fashion industry tends to greenwash. The more you know, the better. In my opinion I feel that our generation it’s all about sustainability and taking care of the resources we still have left on our earth. We’re making baby steps but at least we’re going in the right direction. I would recommend people to think twice before buying anything, swap clothing with each other and buy second hand

“First of all I think it’s important to start showing the reality of fast fashion to the people, sharing knowledge and facts. There are so many people that don’t know that this is an ideal problem, because you barely hear anything about it and there are few people that are actually interested in where their clothing is made.”

Photo: @saratonning