Fashion Jobs – Q & A with Designer and Entrepreneur Mary Young

Style Nine to Five - Fashion Jobs Canada

mary young

Sexy, effortless and comfortable are all ways to describe Mary Young’s namesake lingerie brand. The young entrepreneur has created a unique line of undergarments and loungewear that girls love to wear, no matter what their body type may be. Young has quickly grown her business in the few short years it has been operating, and shows no signs of stopping yet! We had the chance to ask her a few questions to get the story behind the brand, as well as some awesome #girlboss advice.

SNTF: What inspired you to take the plunge and start your own business? Why focus on lingerie and loungewear?

MY: My brand was actually conceived during my fourth year studying Fashion Communications at Ryerson University. I decided to do a double thesis, producing my written capstone as well as a five-piece women’s collection of lingerie and knit sweaters. I showed the collection with the design students at our yearend fashion show, Mass Exodus, where it was extremely well-received by the industry. After graduating I studied the market to see if there was space for a lingerie line that offered more comfort focused pieces and realized this wasn’t widely offered, especially in Canada. A few short months later I took a leap of faith and launched the brand in September 2014.

SNTF: What gap is MARY YOUNG trying to fill? What’s been your biggest challenge today?

MY: MARY YOUNG is offering garments that encourage women to embrace their natural shape and wear pieces that fit them rather than wearing garments that contort their shape. Lingerie today is often seen as garments that are worn for your partner and to be seen, whereas underwear is practical everyday pieces that you wouldn’t wear to be seen. This is where MARY YOUNG comes in, blending the two categories to bring garments that are made for everyday wear and are also intended to be seen. The biggest challenge today is to compete with big and well-established brands in the industry. As a small company in Canada it takes a lot of work to get noticed and put on the same level as the lines coming out of the US, Europe and Australia.

SNTF: What’s your favourite, go-to piece from the fall collection?

MY: My go-to piece lingerie wise is the Logan Bra. I’ve been wearing this style for weeks on end, the side support makes it super comfortable and the plunging front gives me a little extra cleavage that I normally don’t have. Loungewear wise you’ll find me wearing the Owen Sweater in Olive or the Knit Grey. This loose and boxy shape goes with everything and makes it great for layering.

swing tank mary young

SNTF: What does sexy mean to you?

MY: Sexy to me means being comfortable and confident.

SNTF: Comfort and style are two important proponents of the MARY YOUNG line; how do you fuse fashion and comfort together in your day-to-day life? 

MY: For me personally, comfort always trumps fashion but thankfully with the athleisure trend being so huge today it’s easy to be comfortable and stylish. Since I’m often on the go and running around the city, I almost always wear sneakers and usually sport one of the lounge tops with easy to wear pants. I think it’s important to dress for your lifestyle and your personality, if you’re not a heels and skirt girl, don’t try to fit that style, find what works for you and you’ll feel great every day.

SNTF: What’s your favourite part of the fashion industry? Not so favourite part?

MY: My favourite part of the industry would have to be seeing all the new designs and designers growing. The industry in Canada is pretty small and tight knit, so it’s extremely inspiring to see other designers grow and succeed. My not so favourite part is how small the industry is in Canada. We have so much talent to offer that it’s frustrating to not see it really grow and become a bigger, more well respected industry. Personally, I think we should be supporting each other more and making room for more designers to grow and succeed here.

SNTF: What’s the best piece of career advice you ever received? What’s one thing you’d like our readers to know about breaking into the fashion industry?

MY: The best piece of advice I received was ‘If it were easy then everyone would be doing it’. The truth about fashion and breaking in as a new designer is it’s definitely not easy but it is worth it. With the industry being so small it’s hard to carve out a section for your name and your products. Also, if you plan on sourcing and producing in Canada it’s extremely tough. Years ago there were many more resources on our soil but since many brands have gone off shore there isn’t as much here to support the growth of local brands. To anyone looking to start their own line I always say plan it out, do your research, look at the risks and calculate them, when you feel about 80% confident that’s when you should take a leap of faith and go for it.

SNTF: Where do you see MARY YOUNG in the future? Any plans for expansion? 

MY: I plan on continuing the growth of MARY YOUNG to becoming a well-known name across Canada as well as into other markets like the US and Europe. I would love to explore other categories of garments as well but one step at a time for right now.

SNTF: Being an entrepreneur, what words of wisdom do you have for going it alone and being your own #girlboss? 

MY: It’s not easy, but it’s so rewarding. A lot of people won’t understand what you do when you work for yourself and they’ll think your life is glamorous, when in fact you’re working into the night and up before dawn. But when you get that media mention or a big sale, it’s all worth it. Find friends who have chosen a similar path as you so you can have the deep conversations with someone who gets it and don’t be afraid to ask for help. Asking for help when you need it isn’t being weak or not talented, it’s being smart enough to know and acknowledge that you can’t do it all and that other’s talents will help you get to the next step.

Mary Young Swing Tank, $40

Mary Young x Peace Collective Canadian Babe Bra, $74

To check out Mary’s amazing creations you can take a look at her website, or follow her on Instagram!

By: Sarah Brooks, Toronto

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