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Sed ut perspiciatis unde.
SubscribeWe were lucky to catch up with Mara McGinley recently and have shared our conversation below.
Mara, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. What was it like going from idea to execution? Can you share some of the backstory and some of the major steps or milestones?
I had the idea of creating a fashion brand when I had graduated Design school in San Francisco. I wanted to create designs that people could live in, not only look at on a computer screen. Having studied the concept of sustainability in Design, I knewI wanted to incorporate that into developing a fashion line. I then decided I wanted to enroll in Fashion Design school and learn how to build a brand from sewing to pattern drafting. After graduating from FIDM, I worked at other companies where I gained a lot more experience in the fashion industry. I kept dreaming and planning how I wanted to launch a clothing brand and moved to Los Angeles where I began it. From sketches to moodboards to a business plan, I launched my brand, Mara the Label, in 2020 after having worked on developing the first collection for over a year.
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
I am a Fashion Designer and Creative Director living in Los Angeles. I launched my brand, Mara the Label, a sustainable women’s clothing line that focuses on Ready to Wear produced in Los Angeles. My brand focuses on Resortwear and using deadstock and sustainable fabrics. I designed the brand to develop clothing that made women feel comfortable, sexy and free. Along with a mission to design beautiful clothing that practices sustainable measures through sourcing and production. I launched my brand 3 1/2 years ago and during that time the brand has been stocked in Soho New York, presented a runway show at Miami Swim Week and been stocked in several boutiques in Los Angeles. It is currently sold at 1 Hotel in West Hollywood and LAYA Collective in Santa Monica. The brand has also been featured in Vogue UK, Glamour UK, Harper’s Bazaar Vietnam, Pitchfork and other publications.
What’s worked well for you in terms of a source for new clients?
In-store events and pop ups have been the best way to interact with new clients. When people are able to see the product in person I find they understand and appreciate the quality of it more. I’m also able to make a connection and explain the design and production process which involves locally sourcing and producing. Hosting events has also allowed me to expand my network and constantly meet new Being at the 1 Hotel in West Hollywood has drawn new customers. Most recently, my brand became part of LAYA Collective in Santa Monica which is a local boutique that stocks independent designers.
Social media, mainly Instagram has been a consistent way to connect with my current clients and find new clients and creatives as well. It’s been an expressive format to share my creative vision through directing photo shoots and showcasing the collections at beautiful locations.
Any thoughts, advice, or strategies you can share for fostering brand loyalty?
From personal experience creating and fostering community through events and developing a store is a huge aspect of creating brand loyalty. Staying engaged on Instagram with customers and creating new content to keep the page fresh and interesting is key too. Additionally, sending loyal customers special sale offers helps too.
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Image Credits
Tomas Urbano Emily Cummings
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