W L FASHION
MOLBY THE LABEL
Wirral Life talk to Karina Molby , Director of an independent fashion brand in Heswall .
Tell us about Mølby the Label ? My name is Karina Molby and I am the Director behind Mølby The Label . We are an independent , British , slow-fashion brand working out of our small studio in Heswall . Our vision is to create beautiful , timeless garments that can be dressed up or down for all occasions . Shopping sustainably can be expensive and we strive to make it more accessible for the everyday woman .
How do you work sustainably ? My aim is to focus on a more ethical way of working , by reducing fabric wastage and carbon emissions and creating high-quality , timeless garments , which can be worn again and again . I do this in a variety of ways including locally sourcing fabrics . Everything is made to order to reduce fabric wastage and any scraps are reused in our new ‘ Save the Scraps ’ initiative in which we use scrap materials to create unique , one off accessories from dog collars to cushions .
What inspired you to set up Mølby the Label ? It all started from my Grandma Rita . An eccentric , funny and confident woman that would not hesitate to cut her own hair and regularly rock fingerless gloves paired with a choker . She always owned small fashion boutiques around Merseyside and as long I could remember I would dress the mannequins and serve customers . From this , I have had a fascination with fashion and how creative and fun it can be .
What experience do you have in the industry ? As I mentioned in my last answer , fashion has always been a passion of mine and I have always wanted to pursue a career in this field . When finishing college studying a compulsory art foundation course that was needed before I could focus on fashion design at University . I went to Liverpool John Moores University to study fashion design .
During my time at JMU , I completed an internship at Jonathan Saunders . Moving to London for 6 months and working full time in a busy studio with many skilled professionals from around the world .
I gained more experience during that 6 months than I could ever explain , from pattern cutting to sampling and sewing for fashion week , it became so clear to me that this was something I wanted to pursue .
When leaving university I worked at boohoo . com and Very in the buying department for just over 5 years combined . Although I strongly believe in a sustainable way of working , I also understand that there will always be a demand for fast fashion , as we live in a society that wants something at the click of a button .
What advice would you give to young fashion designers ? Alongside working full time I have always ran a part-time business . Over the years this has been incredibly demanding , working until 6 and sewing until midnight and then going again the following day . Looking back this brand has taken over 5 years to develop and gaining a following takes time and patience . I don ’ t want to use the cliché of “ never give up ” but this is true . If you believe in a concept , do everything you can to bring it to life . Mistakes are constant and without them you will not learn . Seek advice , whether that be in the form of branding , marketing or even how to make a dress . I have had the pleasure of continuously improving my skill set since employing my first full time and incredibly talented seamstress , Danny . People are so skilled in their individual fields and it is important to utilise people for what they are good at . I personally make dresses , however , Mølby the Label is continuing to grow because of the wealth of experience and support around me .
What has been your champion design ? I created a dress last spring called the ‘ Tilda Dress ’. I didn ’ t really think much of it at the time . I never planned for it to be half as popular as it has been . Through its sales and the attention it received from influencers , this dress has moulded my brand and has given me a strong platform and following on social media .
What do you dislike about fast fashion ? Waste ! Waste ! Waste !
There is a need for fast fashion and I personally don ’ t believe this need will ever diminish . As a society , if we want something quickly , we get it quickly , and this is no different with clothes . At a click of the button you are able to have next day delivery , not pay for it and get a wardrobe of clothes dropped off to your door for you to try on and send back , let ’ s be honest , you can see the attraction . wirrallife . com 65