Looks from Maggie Marilyn’s latest Forever capsule collection featured in the brand’s new film A Brave New World. Images supplied.
Optimism has always been a tenet of Maggie Marilyn and while this past year has been a particularly tough one, the brand’s debut at Afterpay Australian Fashion Week 2021 yesterday was positively titled A Brave New World. The only New Zealand label to be showing at AAFW this year, Maggie Marilyn eschewed a runway presentation in favour of launching the brand’s A Brave New World film, a nod to the re-emergence of communities after the year that’s been.
The film beautifully showcased Maggie Marilyn’s latest Forever capsule collection which designer Maggie Hewitt began working on in early January. The start of the year was definitely a time when we were all ready to leave 2020 in the dust and start again, looking forward to the possibilities of a fresh new year.
“I came across an image shared by Laura Jackson, founder of Hoste London and long-time supporter of Maggie Marilyn, which seemed to perfectly capture the optimism I was feeling – despite everything – of what a new year and fresh start could hold,” says Maggie Hewitt. “The image depicted a group of friends gathered outside around a long dining table on a warm summer’s evening. Breaking bread, laughing, storytelling and enjoying each other’s company. There was a lightness I was immediately drawn to and it reminded me of the simple pleasure that comes from dressing up and sharing a meal with your favourite people.”
The resulting film was directed by filmmakerDuc Thinh Dong and shot on location at The Range in Byron Bay across 120 acres of picturesque Australian countryside. The Maggie Marilyn team assembled a talented team of Australian creatives to bring Maggie’s vision to life including producer Lauren Barge, photographer Dan Roberts and stylist Emma Kalfus, alongside leading models Shimma Marie, Mahalia Handley and New Zealand’s own Manahou Mackay.
Maggie Marilyn also collaborated with MECCA Brands on the soft, optimistic makeup looks created by Makeup Director for MECCA, Isabella Schimid, using conscious brands that have a considered approach to beauty. The focus was on glowing, natural skin that had a lived-in dewiness, softly bee-stung lips, lightly drawn on freckles and glossed eyelids. Environmentally conscious hair brand R+Co and Paloma Garcia, owner and director of Paloma Salon collaborated on the naturally pretty hair looks that were felt fresh and unfussy. Nelson Made created the chic footwear which complemented the range and Australian luxury jewellery designer Mineraleir crafted the fine jewellery from 90% recycled precious metals. Each collaborator was chosen for their shared values and conscious approach in keeping with Maggie Marilyn’s own ethos.
As always with Maggie Marilyn collections there was a joyfulness about the new Forever pieces, which came through in the charming hues of azure blue, chocolate brown, raspberry pink and a luscious golden gingham. Those gorgeous colours translated beautifully into the sun-dappled film created by Duc Thinh Dong. Maggie Marilyn’s values of community, hope and sustainability were represented in the planting of a tree, carefree barefoot wandering and the sharing of a meal at a community table.
“We wanted to show our appreciation for the land and all it has given us, the people we’re lucky enough to work alongside and the consciously-produced garments we hope find forever homes in our customers’ wardrobes. Both physically and metaphorically, we are asking our Australian neighbours to come and take a seat at our table, with the hope that we may learn from them, collaborate, and empower each other,” adds Maggie Hewitt.
The pieces themselves are a glorious representation of Maggie Marilyn’s uplifting vision for the future, with dreamy dresses that allow you to dance freely, chic suiting that empowers you to be your most confident self and cut-away styles that offer playfulness and a sense of insouciance. Maggie Marilyn has mastered making clothing that is sophisticated yet accessible and designed to be treasured forever, as the title of her capsule collections suggests. The brand’s commitment to creating fashion with a softer footprint on our planet means that every piece is crafted from traceable and organic or repurposed fibres and responsibly made in New Zealand.
Maggie Marilyn’s fans will be delighted to know that the first drop of this beautiful new Forever range is available online and in stores now.
Images supplied.