INTERVIEW #21 MARLENE ABRAHAM

“Every time you buy something you should ask yourself, “Will I wear it a minimum of 30 times?”

Marlene started her career as a model in Paris and have been working in the fashion industry for many years. Her dream came true when she founded the fashion brand Mayla and step by step she has turned a fashion brand that use to sell silk clothing to a vegan and more sustainable brand. She has proven that you can change your product even if Mayla since the start has been a slow fashion brand with few collections of high quality pieces of clothing. In this interview we get to know a little bit more about her and what she thinks about the fashion industry.

Occupation:

Founder/Designer of Mayla Stockholm

What’s your relationship with clothes? 

As long as I can remember I’ve always been interested in fashion and the way you dress express your identity. Some items in my wardrobe feel like old friends and they are a part of my personality. Since I have my own brand and wear most of our samples to make sure the fit is right before they go into production, I have much more clothes than I need.

When I finally buy something, it’s something I really want and love and normally keep for years. 

At Mayla we use the #30Wears campaign that was founded by, Livia Firth, the woman behind Eco Age. Every time you buy something you should ask yourself, “Will I wear it a minimum of 30 times? If the answer is yes, then buy it, if it’s no, then don’t.” 

I think that’s a good start to make sure you invest in pieces you actually will wear.

How would you describe your style?

My style is quite low-key not too adventurous. I never plan outfits in advance and let my mood and the weather decide what to wear. I like well-made clothes and I’m conscious about the shape and fit. I tend to dress down nicer pieces with jeans or flats for a more relaxed look.

I rarely wear high heels, very tight or exposing clothes. I would never be the person with the most eye-catching outfit. 

I wear mostly jeans mixed with different tops and blazers. During summer I switch to skirts, dresses and kaftans. 

How would you describe your closet?

It’s a small walk-in closet that’s quite edited, but I still have a lot more work to do. I hang on to some items because I love them, but apparently not enough to find a day to wear them. 

I do seasonal clean outs, that I sell through Arkivet , Sellpy or donate. 

Most of my clothes are on hangers, colour coded and itemised. Jeans and knitwear are folded. My winter wardrobe is classic, mostly in black, with a few oversized blazers in different shapes. My summer wardrobe is a bit more colourful with a few prints, frilly tops, dresses, kaftans and jumpsuits.

What is a sustainable closet for you?

“Make sure to build a closet of great long-lasting essentials, that you can combine in different ways many seasons ahead.”

It’s a closet where you actually wear everything in it. Buying clothes you love, that are versatile and that you can wear for a long time. When the clothes reach the end and they are no longer wanted you have to make sure to resell, donate or recycle. Make sure to build a closet of great long-lasting essentials, that you can combine in different ways many seasons ahead. 

Put some effort into finding sustainable brands where you know the items have been ethically and sustainably produced.

What do you think about the fashion industry? 

I love that it is an international and creative industry attracting a lot of interesting people, pushing the limits in design and fashion.

However, I believe the industry has to change. We need to produce sustainably and stop over consuming. We need to put an end to the fast fashion era that is exploiting people, animals and our environment.

What do you believe needs to change?

I don’t like mass production of anything, really. Prices need to increase which will lead to less consumption. The whole production chain needs to be sustainable and traceable, but the customer also needs to adapt to a sustainable consumption. Buy less for a higher price. 

It’s sad to see how fast fashion copies runway items and produce a version of them before they even hit the store of the original brand. Making designs available without any respect for the designers and the creator behind those items. 

“We need to put an end to the fast fashion era that is exploiting people, animals and our environment.”

What can one do that seeks to create a more sustainable closet?

• Do an inventory of your closet and clean out everything you don’t use. Give those items away or sell it. 

• Identify what you need to complete your closet. Are you lacking jeans, blazers or shirts? It’s about making use of those key-items you already have. 

• If and when you buy something new, make sure it adds value to your closet. Don’t buy more of what you already have. Add something that is easy to combine and helps to create a new look. Make sure that it is produced in a sustainable way. Jeans is something you can wear for many years when you find the right shape.

• Shop vintage! In that way you can find special pieces, something that is unic and that you love.