Female entrepreneurship and sustainability: Marigré, Made in Italy conquering the world
When sustainability and female entrepreneurship meet, something wonderful always comes out of it. Fashion On The Beat found an example. Marigré is a green knitwear brand but also the story of two women, mother and daughter, Marina and Georgia, who through creativity and beauty bring Made in Italy to the top in the world. Their production of knits and unique home decor pieces with low ecological impact are based on the choice of all-natural yarns, to give life to beautiful, precious garments that last over time and allow women of any age to feel beautiful and confident.
We interviewed Georgia Calvo and asked her to tell us about the history of the brand and the creative process of Marigré, which was born in Turin and made in Italy, but marketed worldwide.
Marigré is an female oriented brand created for modern, dynamic women who love to take care of themselves and seek a style that makes them stand out. How did the idea of bringing this brand to life come about? What inspired you?
Marigré was born from the idea of carrying out a family project, taking up the entrepreneurial history of my grandparents who founded many years ago a knitting mill, Maglificio Piemontese, which was one of the first to export to America. That project ended in the 1980s, but in our hearts we always had the desire to get back into the game. So we decided to launch a new brand of knitwear totally Made in Italy and to use the highest quality natural or sustainable Italian yarns. We stress the Made in Italy aspect because we still believe in our country and its excellent craftsmanship. We also believe in sustainability because it is impossible to do otherwise nowadays.
Yours is a beautiful story of female entrepreneurship, you started the brand with your mom, who share a passion for fashion with you. Did she pass it on?
My mother has always worked in the industry, and thanks to her I breathed fashion since I was a child. She has always traveled a lot for work and when I got older I started following her every now and then, being lucky enough to follow the fashion shows in Paris and sales in New York. She immediately introduced me to the beauty of this world but also to the great commitment it takes to "live it." I initially approached interior design, a very related reality, and then embarked on this crazy adventure with her. I have learned so much in these three years, met wonderful people who have dedicated their lives to this field that can be hard and cruel but can give you back so much.
Sustainability issues emerge when it comes to the choice of yarns and respect for the environment, including the phases of manufacturing processes. How do you go about selecting yarns? What guides the line creation?
Marigré is a brand that tries to be as sustainable as possible. We do not say 100% yet because the offer is still not ready to cover all needs, but we will get there. The essential thing for us is the quality of the yarn. We look for a soft and enveloping "hand." We use mostly organic and reclaimed yarns with verified certifications. Another essential aspect for us is the color that is always very present in our collections. Black and beige are extra colors for us that we strive to include because the market demands it. We believe in the idea of making garments that represent us and that we would wear every day, without necessarily following fashions that as we know also pass quickly. This is also sustainability for us.
What is your ideal customer? Do you find there is more market in Italy or abroad?
Let's say that the demand for sustainable clothing in Italy is still very low compared to some foreign countries such as northern Europe and America. We like to think that our ideal woman has a cosmopolitan and independent spirit. Of any age.
Which plans does Marigré have for the future? And if you had to give advice to young women trying to establish themselves and find their way today, what would you tell them?
We would certainly like our brand to grow in terms of notoriety, but we hope to keep it closer to us in order to continue to personally follow up with suppliers and be able to go to knitting mills to check on productions in person. We would also like to become 100 percent sustainable.
It is difficult to give advice on how to accomplish such a project, but surely being able to do what we enjoy every day is already a great achievement. However, courage is not enough; you have to be prepared for many sleepless nights and hard work. Sometimes this rewards, and trying is always worth it anyway.
