This month in Après Diaries, we’re spotlighting Marta, our brilliant Production and Operations Manager. With her sharp eye for detail, a passion for creativity, and a love for all things design, Marta plays a pivotal role in shaping the heart of Après Studio. From her journey into the fashion world, to the rituals and inspirations that fuel her creativity, Marta offers a glimpse into her world in this candid and inspiring interview.
Marta, so nice to interview you.
You were the first person I employed at Après Studio when I moved back to Sydney last year.
It’s been such a wild 16 months and I truly could not have done it without you.
I thank my lucky stars that we connected.
I wanted to take the time to sit down and ask you some questions I think the world would love to know the answers to!
To properly introduce you, have you got any nicknames?
Roo, Martaroo, Marty
How would your friends describe you?
I asked my best friend to help with this and he wrote maybe the sweetest thing anyone has ever said but I think the irony of these two being about the same person sums it up well:
"perfect mix of brains and humor" and "when it's time to unwind, you can find her enjoying literally any reality tv with a glass of red in hand"
Star sign?
Sagittarius Sun, Scorpio Rising and Taurus Moon
Where do you currently live, and who with?
I live on the Northern Beaches of Sydney with my partner Ryan, my daughter Matilda who is almost 4 and our two cats Felix and Tango.
Have you been there most of your life?
I moved to Sydney when I was 11 years old, I was born in Latvia and all of my family still live in Europe
What is your favourite thing about it?
My favourite thing about where I live is that all of my closest friends are just a few minutes drive away which means I get to see them often. This helps when your family lives on the opposite side of the world which is my least favourite thing about it.
Where is your go to for breakfast, lunch, dinner and of course, coffee?
Hmm... Breakfast tastes better if you're still in your pajamas so I have to say breakfast at home if I have the ingredients. First coffee of the day is also at home, which is a long black and if I am out and about on the weekends I can't say no to a cardamom bun and coffee from Fika (or their bakery) in Manly.
My go-to lunch would have to be sushi. Dinner is a hard one... one of my favourite meals in Sydney was Korean at Bar Soul in Surry Hills which has since closed, if I want a yummy pasta I love Ragazzi and Fabbrica, or I make this recipe at home alllll the time. Good pizza always has a spot in my heart, for French I love Hubert. Oh and ramen, if anyone has a good recommendation in Sydney I am yet to find my favourite. And Chinese Noodle House for dumplings. I love food, it's like asking to choose a favourite child.
What are your daily rituals?
This is something I have only recently started, but, each night at bed time I ask my daughter what her favourite part of her day was and she asks me back. It's been such a simple way to incorporate gratitude into our daily routine and finish the day on a positive note.
What are you currently reading?
What do you currently do for work?
Officially, I am the Production and Operations Manager at Après Studio, unofficially I am Meg's third and fourth arm. Also formerly known as Coco, some of you may know her.
How did you get into the fashion industry?
I have always enjoyed art, textiles and any creative subjects at school so have always wanted to be in a creative field. I have a memory of flicking through the uni course guide in our careers class and seeing the fashion design degree at UTS listed and having a lightbulb moment going "oooh, you can actually go and study that.." so my goal was set and that's exactly what I went on to do.
I studied full time and worked a casual retail job which was my only income to pay for rent (I lived out of home, unlike most of my cohort), living expenses and the materials needed for my degree. I literally couldn't afford to do any unpaid internships and paid ones simply don't exist (still today!!) so I was already feeling a little defeated before I even began working in the industry.
The choices for entry-level fashion jobs in Sydney are limited, especially if you want to work for a company that has the same values as you in regards to sustainability and ethics.
Nevertheless, I got my first job for a small Australian womenswear brand, initially as a wholesale coordinator but due to the nature of small businesses, I was able to dip my toe in many different aspects of the company which gave me a good understanding on how a fashion business works overall. I stayed there for a few years and ended up in a marketing/ graphic design role.
After that, I needed a bit of a palette cleanser so did freelance social media and web design work, mainly for a hot sauce company, (veeeery different, I know) but after a while I realised that I really missed working in fashion and there is something special about working with clothes and other creatives that makes me super excited and inspired.
What sparked your interest in clothing and the world of design and art?
My mum is an art and design writer and curator so I guess I grew up just exposed to it - the books on our bookshelves, visiting art galleries on weekends, etc. My grandmother is a great knitter and taught me to knit. It's just always been around me in some way.
(Marta's great great grandmother)
We adore the eye you have for curating your fashion, accessories and surrounds.
You truly have created a beautiful world of your own.
Where do you think this comes from?
Family, friends, other people, books, art and the biggest one - time. I think over time you gain confidence to really trust yourself and what you really like and not get swept up in following trends.
Have you got a favourite piece of furniture you own? Where is it from?
Probably my dining chairs - I picked them up for free on Marketplace!
What is your go-to comfort meal?
Mashed potatoes
Coffee order?
Soy flat white, or soy iced latte. We're all anti-oat, I can't have dairy and I hate almond milk so don't come at me for the soy, ok?
What helps you when you’re lacking in creative inspiration?
Stepping away - there's really no point trying to force it.
How do you approach getting dressed?
Mostly stressed!! There's a sweet spot between having enough time to try on outfits but also needing the pressure of having to leave the house where I usually put together my best looks - probably something to do with not having enough time to overthink it.
I'm definitely better at dressing in winter, Sydney summer always gets me as I find dressing for hot weather so boring and hard.
Favourite items in your wardrobe?
Anything Après duh.
And my blue jeans.
Ooh and a good knit.
Favourite vintage shops you’ve been to?
It's definitely just about the vibe of the day and not the shop. You can go to a highly recommended vintage shop and it's just a bad day and you get nothing and then you duck into your local, usually average, op shop and find the most perfect thing in the world. It's all part of the fun.
Something you can’t live without?
Sleep, reality TV, food, my friends, Matilda's little giggle
What are you currently obsessed with listening to?
Jamie XX's latest album
Please curate a 10-25 song playlist on Spotify for us or list your songs and we will make it for you!
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