In light of London Fashion Week, 2021, we are intentionally slowing down to highlight some of the change makers in our GIFTED community. As the recent IPCC report reveals frightening news, in regards to the current state of the climate crisis, it also sheds light on the urgent role that the fashion industry plays in mitigating the worst-case scenarios of global warming.

Megosa, a rising brand playing its part in the slow fashion movement, uses natural dyes of warm, fresh, pastel colours that minimize its impact on our oceans. With small and considered collections, quality doesn’t compromise ethics or the environment. It’s comfortable, feminine pieces are designed for the everyday, opening up opportunities to wear Megosa again and again and again...

Let’s take some time to slow down and to listen to the designer behind Megosa. Thank you for choosing to grow together as Gifted, by Nature!

Who are you?

Name: Stephanie Zeinati

Gifted: Founder and Creative Director of Megosa

IG handle: @megosa_label

Website: www.megosalabel.com

Three words to describe how you’re feeling right now: Creative. Anticipating. Grateful

Slow down… I just wanna get to know you....

How did you first become interested in slow fashion?

I studied Fashion Design firstly at London College of Fashion and then The University for the Creative Arts. After graduating I went on to intern and work full time in London in the fashion industry within Product Development and Production at high end brands. Fashion is a very exciting but wasteful industry, no matter if luxury or high street. There is so much excess in terms of use and waste. When I was at Uni sustainability in fashion was a very small conversation compared to today.

The more I experienced in the industry, the more I learnt about myself and what I value. In the past I would feel moments of conflict with my personal beliefs and way of doing things compared to the ethos of companies I worked for and the industry as a whole. There is a need for change, and it’s completely about mindset and awareness. I was raised to always be compassionate - lessons about gratefulness and not to waste food or things are ingrained in me.

Surprisingly I don’t really like shopping. I feel there is just too much to look at and where I shop, what I can afford, I am often disappointed with the quality and fit. When I buy a piece of clothing, or any product, I want it to be an experience and I want to have that item last me a while.

My vision for my brand was to slow down. I offer high quality, design-led clothing made from sustainable fabrics and the best processes to reduce waste. On top of this, all my colours are natural dyes as I try not to contribute to water pollution any further. I design with the body in mind and put first the things I love such as fit and feel, comfort and softness.

Your label ‘MEGOSA’ has been featured in British Vogue, Grazia UK and Stylist Magazine! Tell us more about why you started, and your dreams for MEGOSA moving forward…

The press Megosa has received in a space of a few months has been incredible and a boost to the confidence in my ideas.

From a very young age, I was drawn to making clothes and my mother and Godmother Megosa taught me how to sew. I knew from a young age that I wanted to become a designer and to start a fashion business, and dreamt of my name in big letters.

During my career as a Product Developer I lost sight of my dreams and thought I would never actually do it. I have always seen myself running a business, building a team and being a good leader. Due to the pandemic, in 2020, I lost a great job as Product Development Manager for Womenswear Ready-to-Wear at Liberty London and for the first time in my adult life I was jobless and free.

Thanks to the support of my family and fiancé, I was able to start Megosa in summer 2020 and launched in summer 2021. Megosa the person and Megosa the brand has taught me so much about myself and has instilled in me the young and creative little girl that had big dreams. The future of Megosa is a continuation of authentic sustainability, the search for the best materials, processes and new technologies to create beautiful design-led silhouettes that arrive in the hands of my wonderful customers. I’m creating a Megosa Gang and I love it!

As a rising female owned brand, what words of advice would you give to other aspiring designers?

Firstly, as a creative, the most important bit of advice I have is to believe in your ideas because you should before anyone else. Secondly, be yourself and be true to yourself. Creativity comes from within and is unique to all of us and it’s important to not hold onto what people think too much and let it stop you. Criticism is important, in all kinds, but it should never limit your capabilities!

Trust in your capabilities, you can do far more than you know.

If you want to start a business, you need to take risks. It took me years to start at a time that I was most vulnerable; yet, I had the experience behind me to back myself. You’ll never be fully ready! If you don’t take risks you may have regrets for not trying more so than trying.

Asking for help is huge as is networking and putting yourself out there. Be the one to set up the meeting or the call. Send that DM, what’s to lose?

Lastly, have patience.

A quote I just learnt and has been in my head a lot lately, by Jean Piaget –

“If you want to be creative, stay in part a child with the creativity and invention that characterises children before they are deformed by adult society.”

Letting go…

With all the heaviness that the world is experiencing, it’s important to hold space for light. We’re all moving through a climate crisis, a global health, environmental and racial pandemic; yet, despite and because of this weight, we still rise. The human spirit continues to leave us encouraged by change.

What are you ‘letting go’ of in this season?

I’m letting go of self doubt to make more room for opportunity and creativity. I no longer associate with toxic environments. Instead, I am only looking for positivity and like-minded people. I used to care about what people think about me. Now, I feel more confident in who I am. I notice that I haven’t thought about my physical and mental well being. I now make time for exercise and meditation.

Grateful...

As we shift out of lockdown, into a renewed season of ‘normality’ - take a moment to reflect on what you are grateful for…

What are your lockdown blessings?

I’m grateful for family. I appreciate the present moment. I’m hopeful about the future environment around us. I’ve found a new love for growing fruit and vegetables and watching them bloom. I’ve discovered more of myself now than I ever have before.

Recommendations

At the moment, what are you:

Listening to: Wake Up/Wind Down (Spotify)

Reading: The Slow Factory (Instagram)

Watching: Pose (Netflix)

Be Here Now (LFW): Stephanie Zeinati