For Maggie Marilyn’s Maggie Hewitt, the last few years have been a period of resetting and new beginnings. Navigating the changes sparked by the pandemic and welcoming her first child, she’s embarked on a journey to redefine the brand’s trajectory.
“The first years of Maggie Marilyn were marked by rapid growth. Net-a-Porter was one of our first stockists, we were shortlisted for the LVMH Prize, and quickly picked up a lot of international retailers,” she explains, seated in her bright Sydney showroom. “Everything felt like it was spinning so fast, and it wasn’t sustainable at all, not for the environment sure, but also for me, for my team, and for longevity and building something that was really going to be around for a long time.”
This realization prompted a shift in approach. Each collection is now meticulously considered, building upon the foundation of the previous one. A striped cotton shirt finds a perfect match in a bubble skirt of the same fabric, a style introduced last season. Meanwhile, tweedy “business separates” receive youthful updates, like a tailored vest and bolero combo that seamlessly merges into one jacket, a standout piece from the resort 2022 collection.
Hewitt’s design sensibility shines in pieces like the effortless butter yellow crepe dress with a built-in matching belt at the hip. The dress is substantial enough to conceal underwear lines, yet light enough for a hot summer day, a testament to her understanding of both style and comfort. It’s a testament to her design that both Hewitt and another employee found themselves wearing the dress on the day I visited.
More recently, Hewitt has begun introducing a line of sportswear pieces. Windbreaker jackets and pullover fleeces, emblazoned with a “Marilyn” logo, draw clear inspiration from the icons of ’90s American sportswear. The unexpected juxtaposition of traditionally masculine styles with a distinctly feminine brand name—Marilyn—offers a refreshing twist. It’s a playful subversion, a nod to the past with a contemporary edge.
“I think there’s this thrill for me, designing with nostalgia in mind—thinking about the old fishing jackets my dad would wear, or the fleeces my mom would wear when she was in the veggie garden,” she adds. Now, it’s her dad and partner who wear the pieces bearing her name, a personal touch that connects her designs to her life’s experiences.
