We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Marialia Pacitto. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with MariaLia below.

MariaLia, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Let’s talk legacy – what sort of legacy do you hope to build?

The idea of wanting to leave a legacy seems to be a pretty typical and innate human desire, stemmed from the volition of making sure we live this life with purpose and direction. I have actually thought about this question quite a bit in the recent past. I feel that having a broad expectation about the impression you will leave on this world after you die is pretty self-serving and futile as opposed to taking small, direct steps just one day at a time to build the type of world you want to live in. I believe this structure is ultimately going to be more impactful than any grandiose methods one can take since these types of acts are typically driven by our own egoism. Our intention should always be about the greater good, and never about ourselves. Focusing on the now and living each moment with intent and action while affecting your direct radius of community causes a sort of ripple effect- which I trust has the strongest ultimate outcome. I believe that true legacies simply create themselves, and all I can hope to be remembered for in this chaotic world is being imperfectly human, and most of all: kind.

MariaLia, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

I am a fashion creative, designer, seamstress, and entrepreneur from Italy and Los Angeles, based full-time in LA. I wear many many hats, as I discovered a long time ago that the fashion industry is one big umbrella with a multitude of facets that can each pave the way for a very successful and fulfilling career… or in my case, careerS. I started my eponymous label, MARIALIA, at 15 with no formal training or education while I was still in high school. Growing up, I always had an interest in clothing design, and my mother was able to facilitate that interest for me since she had a background in sewing and an impeccable sense of style. I dropped out of college my second year in order to fully pursue my interests and it has been a very tumultuous, yet rewarding, journey. In 2016, after 9 years of creating and designing for my own label, I expanded my skill set by teaching myself industry-standard manufacturing and design processes in order to provide production services to others. From then until now, I learned everything needed to help clients bring their design/product visions to life and getting them factory-ready for large scale production. Although I miss designing for my own brand, I have found that helping other like-minded entrepreneurs in the same way I helped myself is the most rewarding. In early 2022, my production company (cheekily named XPNSV DSGNR LLC), was born and I have since been juggling the re-birth of my label and myself as a master tailor/seamstress whilst assisting clients with their own design needs. From technical design, sample making, tech pack creation, graphic design, e-commerce support, small brand consulting, and much more, I am able to diligently help guide clients to meet their design and production goals because I was basically my own first client when I started MARIALIA, and learned everything the hard way through my mistakes and my ignorance. My ethos as a designer and entrepreneur has always remained the same since 2006: to raise a huge middle finger to this vapid and dishonest fashion industry by helping others feel good about themselves through expression of dress, while finding ways to leave less of a carbon footprint and more of a direct impact on the people and the planet. I am very passionate about projects that give back, and that drives me more than any celebrity placement ever could.

Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?

Just the gratitude to be able to wake up each day and do what I love- on my own terms, and in my own weird, unique way. As I slowly expand the production side of my business, I aim to help create jobs and opportunities for other artists and tradespeople while using ethical business methods and a conscientious model that large companies and corporations would never even consider. I aim to always give back through my work, even if it happens to be on a smaller scale than many others would aspire for.

What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?

Simply being able to do what I love everyday! Nothing feels better or more natural to me than when I am sewing and creating clothes.

Contact Info:

• Website: marialia.com & xpnsvdsgnr.com
• Instagram: @marialia & @xpnsvdsgnr & @princessl1a
• Facebook: https://facebook.com/MARIALIA06
• Linkedin: https://linkedin.com/in/marialiapacitto
• Twitter: https://x.com/marialia06
• Other: tik tok: @princessl1a

Image Credits

Photos by Munya Nihal taken in Amman, Jordan.
Dress designed and made by Marialia.