A few weeks back we featured Maisie Broome in a group zoom discussion about creatives in a digital world and we’re excited to hear that she’s bringing her marbling skills to the world of denim tomorrow (Saturday 28th at 2pm EST) Whilst Maisie (aka @myfawnwy) has dabbled in the denim world before, this is her first official drop and its going to be amazing. We have admired her work since discovering her almost a year ago to the day at the West Coast Craft Fair in LA and decided to fire her a few questions about her work and this new denim venture.
You have done this for a while and have experimented with jeans before but this is your first real run of jeans, right?
Yes! I have been making marbled clothing for over a decade, mostly focusing on custom pieces and limited collections, but this is my largest collection of pants to date. I’ve had so many requests for my marbled jeans over the years that I’ve been able to invest in producing more of them, and I am so excited to get them to people who have been patiently waiting for this day to come.
How did you find it different from other pieces like tee shirts and home goods?
For this project I spent a lot of time focusing on getting the style and fit right for these pants, to make sure they work on many different body types. I’ve tested the sizes and the fit on a bunch of my friends, and they look like a dream on everybody.
Where did you source the denim and who is manufacturing? Are you marbling the whole jean or doing fabric and then cut n sew?
The denim is 100% cotton bull denim manufactured here in the USA. I marble yardage in a huge marbling bath in my studio and then cut and sew it. Before this run, I’ve sewn all of the garments myself, but I just started working with a local seamstress to help me scale up production. Her name is Sandra, she is the absolute best and I’m so grateful to have her expertise and help.
Jeans and art have often gone hand in hand because of the jean’s versatility: hand drawn scrawls, bleaching, etc etc. But your work is crossing over to a more elevated medium. Why do you think this is?
As the slow fashion movement grows, and a sustainable awareness is fostered, I think people are being more thoughtful with their purchases. People like to buy things that are truly special, unique, and made to last. It feels good to know where your purchase is coming from and the whole story behind it: the labor, the journey, and the care that goes into each and every aspect of the design and production. Every pair of these pants is completely one-of-a-kind, so you are buying a wearable piece of art. A true original.
Why do you think 2020 is the year of the marbled jean? Is it the playfulness? The craft element? The escapism?! The psychedelia? What drew you in and why do you think it’s resonating particularly right now?
There is something really mesmerising and magical about marbling, and I think we could all use a little more magic in our lives this year. For me personally, there are many reasons i have been able to ramp up production in 2020, from having more time to focus on my art during quarantine, to selling out every single collection within minutes which is allowing me to reinvest in my work, to moving into a larger studio which allows me to expand my process. There are many elements at play and I am so grateful to be where I am at right now.
Do you feel that showing you process has a greater impact on your followers?
I think showing the process is what grabs people and pulls them into your work. It feels personal and intimate to have a peek into an artist’s process and studios. It’s nice to offer these videos to watch where nothing is being sold but it feeds into the concept ‘oh you could get a shirt with that on it
You’re just one person with a great skill: can you see a way to scale into a business or do you want to stay small and exclusive?
I have big plans for Myfawnwy. I am committed to maintaining a sustainable and super specialised approach to production, while still being able to scale up so I can meet the growing demand and have more happy customers.
Do you think the current climate has changed consumers demand for artisanal goods?
There’s much more awareness of our impact on the environment and today it’s more fashionable to be sustainable and mindful with your purchases. As that concept becomes more popular, that same intention is going to translate into how people dress. Expressing your personality and connecting with people you identify with will be more important than ever.
What’s next after jeans?
You can expect to see my signature marbled imagery, such as big faces and flowers, making an appearance on denim chore coats and more. Lots of exciting things are in the works!
Trend forecaster, denim designer, industry journalist and author of Denim Dudes.