September 2, 2015

Brand to watch: Moixa Clothing

Moixa is a London based luxury brand that brings together design innovations expressing new ideas about appearance, construction and wearability.

Pronounced Moy-sha, Catalan for female cat, the textile led designs reflect modern, ultra-feminine styles for women who are individual and confident. The collections combine complex textile and fashion techniques with each garment hand-made and distinctively individual.

The concept is the brainchild of New Yorker Denise Mahmud who moved to London in the late 90s creating limited edition garments and accessories at Camden, Portobello and Old Spitalfields.

With Moixa, Denise has successfully managed to combine her expertise in Batik, Shibori, silkscreen, block printing, weaving and embroidery to create high-end, high-quality fashion.

Her textiles have been exhibited at ICFF New York, Maison & Objet Paris, MoOD (Meet only Original Designs) Brussels and The Bargehouse Festival (part of the London Design Festival) as well as featuring in international magazines.

Moixa’s garments are hand-crafted in their London based studio and hand-picked UK manufacturers, underpinning the company’s support for the British textile industry and the pursuit of impeccable craftsmanship and authenticity.

Evolving each season, the collections are beautifully crafted and trend-resistant – the very definition of investment dressing.

How did you start your first collection and get the finance to do so?

I was approached by the GLE (previously part of UKTI) to produce a collection to showcase at Pure London. The stand cost was subsidised greatly allowing me to spend money I had made from my market stands to produce the collection.

Who are your clientele? 

For the most part I supply shops, but I also make bespoke garments for top female corporates in the entertainment industry.

Did you have to study any courses and gain qualifications to help with your designing and business? 

I am mainly self-taught, but with my first collections I did take an advance pattern cutting course to insure the quality I desired would be properly represented in the garments I created. I also decided to take a textile course choosing to focus on Batik, Shibori, silkscreen, block printing, weaving and embroidery as the majority of my designs are textile led. Both courses have helped me greatly.

How did you gain the confidence to make your dreams a reality?

My parents always told me I could do and be anything I put my mind to. I believed it then and I still believe it now.

Has anyone mentored you or who has been one of your biggest support systems?

I would have to say my husband has been my biggest supporter. Whenever I doubt myself he reminds me of all that I have accomplished.

The Fashion industry is a very competitive and harsh industry. How have you dealt with this challenge?

Like any business there are highs and lows, I just push through the lows. You have to come to the realisation that you will not please everyone.As far as competition, I would have to say that I am my biggest competitor and I keep trying to outdo myself every time I create a new collection.

What has been the highlight of your career?

I would have to say being commissioned to create a garment for the Bargehouse Festival (part of the London Design Festival) ‘Untold Gold’ during London 2012. The dress I created was my Golden Web Dress. They liked it so much they asked me if I could create interior products based on the web for a special feature at ICFF New York. I had only thirty days to create textiles, wall coverings and soft furnishings, something I had never done before. Not only did I achieve that, I was voted number three in the top ten newcomers to the show.

What advice would you give someone who wants to get into fashion and start their own collection?

Being an artist is great, but know the business side or it is just a hobby.

What is your biggest regret?

When I started out I always treated my designing as a second choice. Thinking that if I wanted to design I need to go back to school; that being self-taught wasn’t enough. I wasted a lot of time second guessing myself.

Can you complete this sentence ‘What I know is that….. Nothing is impossible!

Fire round questions:
Favourite book: Before the Mayflower: A History of Black America
Favourite quote: “Life is a series of rooms and who we get stuck in those rooms with adds up to what our lives are.”
Last time you laughed: Twenty minutes ago.

To find out more about Moixa and to order please visit their website:  www.moixaclothing.com