In the wake of a global pandemic that is placing distance between people, MAUBY is creating a community of women through fashion. Created by women for women, the brand is aimed at fostering kindness while cultivating classy styles and comfortable outerwear.
On August 11, MAUBY launched pre-orders on its first apparel collection. The collection is made up of pieces great for the currently changing weather and for social distancing. MAUBY’s bottoms also have elasticized waist bands for comfort and for a more universal fit. Her Campus at UCLA spoke with Carol Min, MAUBY’s founder and current Head of Sales & Merchandising about her inspiration for this new venture and for its first apparel collection.
Carol Min: I majored in Communications and graduated from Villanova University in 2008. After graduation, I moved to New York and I was an intern at Louis Vuitton in the Special Events Marketing department, Esquire in the Fashion department and Burberry in the PR department. I tried to gain as much exposure as I could to the brands I loved, and it really showed me the behind-the-scenes look in the industry, as an intern. After my internships, I was able to get a job at Lucky Magazine and was a fashion assistant. I learned about the publishing industry there. I was then hired by Bloomingdales, which really started my career in retail. I started as a Merchant Assistant, then Assistant Buyer and then Senior Assistant Buyer. This is where I got a huge exposure to different brands, and discovered how the business sides of fashion worked!
HC: Why did you decide to go into the fashion industry?
CM: I always had a huge interest in fashion. Growing up, I would go shopping with my mom every weekend and visit every department store. I just loved apparel, merchandising and finding the best deals. So when I found out that it could be a career path, I knew that after college I wanted to be in a creative field that worked with fashion.
HC: Talk us through your thought process and creative vision while developing the line for MAUBY.
CM: After my children were born, my body changed a lot. True contemporary brands didn’t fit the way they used to, and a lot of the missy brands didn’t reflect the style I was looking for. I wanted to create a brand that could bridge comfort and style for a vast group of women. MAUBY was created by women for women, and we really want to cultivate a community that unites women.
CM: I’m the Head of Sales and Merchandising! From photoshoots, to merchandising, to products, to advertisements, I oversee it all to make sure that the brand is cohesive. And I work with upper management to make sure we’re on track on the business side. Each day is always so different because we’re kind of running as a start-up, it’s all hands on deck in every single department.
HC: What does MAUBY mean to you?
CM: MAUBY is my passion project, my brain child. I had to really take a chance on something new, and that scared me. And the future is still unknown, but I’ve realized that at any age, whether you’re a recent college graduate or someone who has been in the industry, it’s never too late to do something that scares you.
HC: What do you see for the future of MAUBY?
CM: I want MAUBY to be a diverse brand that really resonates with a lot of different age groups and ethnicities. And for our clothes to be comfortable and help women feel beautiful in what they wear. A core identity of MAUBY is to empower women and give back to foundations supporting women and children, specifically regarding homelessness, domestic violence and education.
CM: Don’t be afraid to reach out to people who are more senior and experienced than you. We’re all human, and you have to be personable about connecting. I don’t think anyone ever feels like they’ve made it to the top, everyone should always be learning and growing. Reach out!
Carol Min’s journey with MAUBY is so inspiring, especially her ability to launch a new company and line in the midst of a pandemic! We are looking forward to seeing everything else that Carol Min and MAUBY will continue to accomplish in the future.