19 July, 2024

Looking for chic pieces that are worth your investment? Well, Miew has just the thing for you. I recently had a chat with the founder, Monique Grasser and uncovered the inspiring journey behind her brand. Despite having no formal education in fashion, Monique's passion for designing began in childhood, sketching dresses for her grandmother to sew.

Only launched a month ago, Monique's first collection features timeless, versatile pieces designed to seamlessly transition from the office to a night out. With classic silhouettes, neutral colours, and premium materials, her label offers investment-worthy pieces that reflect Monique's minimal yet classy style.

Monique, you mentioned that your love for fashion started with designing dresses for your grandmother to sew. Can you tell me more about those times with your grandmother?

I loved performing arts as a child, for school productions, I would often in detail describe to my grandmother dresses that I wanted made and helped select fabrics for them. When I first started on this journey with MIEW, she was the first person I went to with questions about garment construction.

I love that you got the idea to start your brand during a meditation session in COVID. What was the thought process like?

I'm really into mindfulness, and during a visualization meditation, I pictured my future and saw myself with racks of clothing samples. Before that moment, I had never seriously considered a career in fashion, even though I always had a natural love for it. Suddenly, it all just made sense, and I decided to go for it. I thought, if all else fails, at least I'd have a great wardrobe out of it!

It's amazing that you built Miew without any formal fashion education. What were some of the toughest skills to learn on your own?

The toughest skill to learn on my own without formal education was understanding garment construction and terminology. Although I had the designs, I needed this knowledge to develop the pieces and communicate with manufacturers effectively. I tackled this by spending long nights Googling and when I would meet with suppliers I would take a list of questions that I couldn't find the answers for online. I met a lot of helpful people along the way.

Was it daunting to begin your label?

Launching Miew was incredibly daunting. It felt like exposing a deeply personal and creative part of myself to the world. The fear of putting my work out there was overwhelming because you just don't really know how it is going to be received.

Since launching your brand only a month ago, how has the journey been for you so far?

The journey has been an emotional rollercoaster, filled with lovely moments and a whole new set of challenges. However, the most rewarding moments are when customers share their love for my pieces, it reminds me to keep going. One of the highlights was receiving my first international order, which was very unexpected at the time.

You mentioned the importance of investment pieces made in Australia, how do your pieces meet this demand?

Our initial collection features timeless, high-quality pieces designed to last. These designs created long ago, I still adore and wear on repeat, proving their continued relevance. They are versatile enough to transition from the office to a night out, ensuring multiple wears for the consumer. Classic silhouettes, neutral colours, and premium materials can easily be mixed and matched. I also love adding a modern twist to classic designs, like our Mathilde Shirt Bodysuit, which elevates the traditional white shirt into a unique piece which I couldn’t find in the Australian-made market.

How do you balance running a business with your personal life, especially considering the demands of a start-up?

Balancing business and personal life has been challenging. I've experienced burnout but now recognize my limits. Sacrificing social and leisure time is a necessary trade-off to achieve my vision for Miew. I do a lot of mindset work and try to keep active which keeps me going.

How do you stay inspired?

Although I gather inspiration from a wealth of sources, visiting local fabric suppliers sparks countless ideas for new designs. Additionally, I continue to remind myself of my vision and try to maintain a focused, tunnel vision approach.

And lastly, what kept you going through these last 3 years leading up to this moment?

Whenever I started to doubt myself, I would think back to the times when I wore my designs and remember how much I loved them, or the reactions on people's faces when they saw them for the first time. I would remind myself that I had to share these with the world. It's important to believe in and genuinely love what you are creating. Listening to podcasts and talking to other entrepreneurs who have started their own brands kept me motivated, especially since I work alone. Connecting with others and hearing their stories helped me stay focused and inspired.