Transcript - Is London the Best City for Creatives and Entrepreneurs? | Mare Anderson
Welcome back to Chatterbeans, where every cup holds a story. This is the podcast where I sit down with real people, all with real stories from every walk of life. Today, I'm sitting down with the incredibly talented Mare Anderson, a fashion designer, entrepreneur, and creative mind behind a growing bridal brand. Mare shares her journey from rural Tennessee to the bustling streets of London, opening up about the cultural shifts, the challenges of settling in, and the beauty of building
a community in a new city. We dive into her passion for fashion, the artistry behind bridal design and how rejection can sometimes be the best form of redirection. Plus we chat about London's coffee culture, personal growth and the excitement of embracing the unknown. If you've ever wondered what it's like to start afresh in a new country, chase a creative dream or navigate life's uncertainties with curiosity and resilience, this episode is for you. Get your coffee, get comfy.
And let's dive in.
Speaker 2 (01:17.71)
Mayor, what's your surname? Anderson.
Anderson. It always starts me off surname because I'm like you mean last name?
surname last name
You know what cracked me up this week? haven't heard this in my almost two years of living here. Someone was like, do you have a dressing gown? And I lost it. I was like, do you mean a robe? A bathrobe?
Never heard of dressing,
Speaker 1 (01:44.526)
I was just sat there laughing for a good like minute. Oh yeah, some English lingo is very old school. I think it's because England's such an old country. But it just, made me chuckle.
Really?
Speaker 2 (01:58.754)
I've never said a rabe.
would laugh so hard if I was like, hey, can I borrow a dressing gown to get that? I need a dressing gown when I get out of the shower.
Anyway, Mayor, welcome to Chatterbeans.
I'm
Good stuff.
Speaker 1 (02:15.48)
Great start.
Welcome to Chatter
Usually we need to get past this point. It's all good. How are you?
Yeah, Ken. I'm good. Super excited to be here. Hi-ye. I feel like we are just having a little chat.
Just chat, just imagine when in a busy coffee shop. That's kind of the vibe I wanted to go for. Although a bit more cozy. This would be my vibe. Thanks for coming on the podcast.
Speaker 1 (02:41.23)
Thanks for inviting me. you good? Yeah. Ready to get podcast. Is it?
Maybe not the last. Tell us about you, tell us about life. Where are you in life? Where have you come from? Anywhere you want to start.
Hopefully.
Speaker 1 (02:54.89)
Okay. Well, I'm coming up on two years of living here. So in June, which is crazy because I feel like I just moved here, but also at the same time, I feel like I've been here for a while. So that's really exciting because I feel really settled and I feel like I have a great community of friends and people in my creative space and it just feels really special. I think the first nine months of being here were so challenging just of like...
Moving to a new city, connecting with a new part of myself that I haven't been before. Because you're in a new country, you're in new city, new people, everything's new, new, new, new, new. So it feels really nice to kind of be on the other side where I'm a little bit settled in. And I'm like, I have my favorite coffee shop and I have restaurants that I recommend. And I know where to my friends. Yeah. Yeah, come visit me. I have some friends that are coming.
and the end of this month and in April and in May, which I'm super excited about. And I'm like, yeah, let's go around London town.
Perfect. And you feel calm, you feel settled.
Yeah. mean, I think living in London means there's always going to be chaos, but I feel like I know how to manage the chaos. Yeah. And I kind of like that you're always on your feet. You're always thinking. Yes. But I feel like I can also come back to my flat, chill out and be like. Amazing. And then I'm ready for the next day. I'm like, let's Good. You never know what's going to get thrown at you in London. I think that's just part of the excitement. Yeah. But it's also really addicting.
Speaker 2 (04:18.656)
Let's go again.
totally.
Speaker 2 (04:26.958)
Two years has gone quick. Yeah. I remember when you first came, I think we'd met like a month into your time in London. So it's quite nice to see how you've developed, I suppose. And we'll talk about your job and your career bits in a minute. Where are you from? What are the differences, I suppose, in like where your hometown is to here?
So I'm originally from a small town in Tennessee, rural Tennessee, tele home in Tennessee. Small town, grew up on a small farm, so I was around chickens, goats, cats, dogs, horse, had a big garden, grew up with a lot of siblings, and so it's quite a juxtaposition to now living in London and a city life.
But yeah, I grew up in rural Tennessee and then I went to uni, college for the Americans, in Nashville. And even though Nashville is only an hour and a half from where I'm from, moving from such a small town in Tennessee to Nashville felt so exciting. It was like, oh, I'm in the big city. Like I knew Nashville was like not a huge city, but you know, when you're going from somewhere that's so small to a place like Nashville, feels really exciting.
Loved my time there at school and I was always kind of in my head on track to go to New York. I like, I don't know how I'm gonna move, but I'm gonna move after college. And then I'd gotten a scholarship to study abroad here in London right before I graduated. And so I spent 12 weeks here over the summer.
It was summer 2022, so was when it was really hot. And I was like, wow, the weather is beautiful. It was sunny. I was like, I'm not even wearing my London Fog Trish coat.
Speaker 2 (06:14.19)
much.
like this is great weather. I love it. Little did I know. Exactly. And so I met some really cool people here. I fell in love with just like the English culture. Loved that I was very close to Europe. I mean, I never traveled to Europe when I was standing here, but I like, could. I could just jump on the train. And so after my study abroad, I was like,
Yeah, unusual.
Speaker 1 (06:42.69)
I'm gonna move back to London and then nine months later I moved, June 2023.
So was it from that moment, like visiting in the summer that you were like, I want to live here for a while. I want to make the move out of the US. Yeah.
Yeah. Yeah, it was that summer. was like, that's going to be one of those summers that I feel like when I'm old, I'll be like, yeah, summer 2022. Yeah.
You'll always remember it. Mm hmm. Had you had ambitions when you were much younger, like growing up in the US?
Yeah, in what realm?
Speaker 2 (07:15.406)
leave the US long term or do you just think like that's your home like your siblings are there your family's there
That's a good question. So my older siblings had always traveled a lot. And I really loved hearing all of their stories of traveling abroad. I remember seeing one of my sister and brother's passports just with stamps. And I was like, I'm going to have that one day. one of my sisters invited me to come with her to a
furniture exposition, furniture like interior design in Milan right before I graduated from high school. And so that was my first time in Europe and that's how I got the Europe bug. And I told myself, I'm gonna move. At the time I was like Italy, I'm gonna learn Italian. Like that's where I'm gonna move. And then I was lucky enough to come back to Europe during college. I went to France with my sister again, so another trip with her.
And I remember journaling, like, I don't know how, I don't know when, and don't know what it looks like, but I'm gonna move to Europe after college. Had no idea where it would be. Was still kind of thinking Europe, not the UK. Americans, I associated the UK with Europe, but now understand with Brexit and everything. It's like Europe, UK. And then, yeah, I didn't really think anything of it, because I was so set on wanting to move to New York.
And then that summer abroad, just fell in love with London and I loved all the people that I was meeting in the creative industry, people at the school. I was dating this really great guy. I met this designer that's been a huge part of my journey here. And I just was like, I think this is the place I need to be. And I felt a real peace about it. For some reason, it felt easier to move to a different country and continent than up a few states. Really?
Speaker 1 (09:14.796)
And I don't know if that's because once you form some relationships in a city, it's like, okay, I have a few people, I can do this. Yeah. So I think it started probably in high school, the romanticization of Europe. But I didn't think it would be this soon. I thought I'll do New York. I'll be in Europe in my 30s or something. Really? So who knows? Maybe it be the reverse. Yeah, exactly.
Well, I'm interested in that because you've been here a couple of years. So I guess let's start off with some of the struggles. So what are some of the big things that you maybe miss about home or just struggled with London because it's not an easy place.
Speaker 1 (09:51.084)
laugh at this one because I talk about it every day, but the weather. It's real. The British people do talk about the weather every day. And now I do as well. Every day I'll be like, it's cloudy. What a surprise. Or, my gosh, the sun's been out for five days in a row.
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (10:03.427)
We do.
Speaker 2 (10:10.894)
It's literally the thing that if there's ever something like an awkward silence, it's like, just talk about the weather.
Right. Always a safe bet. Yeah. And I'll talk about it even with people that I'm good friends with. I'll be like, wow, what a beautiful day. Yeah. No, but the weather was hard because the summer that I moved, so June 2023, I felt like it was really cold. And I was like, wait, last summer was so warm. And I was a little bit like, OK, so it's actually really cloudy. And you don't realize how much that affects you because I'm from the South. It's sunny.
a good amount of the year. Even during the winter, can be a little bit cloudy or like really cold, but the sun still comes out. You have more clear days than not, I'd say. So my first winter was probably the most brutal winter of my life so far. I don't know, that sounds dramatic, but it was intense because the short days are really short. So weather, but we've gotten over that now because you just learn how to romanticize the cloudiness and the rain.
they are sure.
Speaker 2 (11:17.004)
I quite like the winter though. It's cozy, right? Yeah. And it works with the UK's vibe, I suppose.
There's something cozy about it.
Speaker 1 (11:24.558)
I think if you can tap into getting yourself as cozy and just like having something that you really enjoy doing, a little wintertime hobby and accepting it and not fighting it, then it's bearable.
Definitely, definitely. Okay. Some of the things you missed then. Well, you still might miss.
Yeah, I definitely miss being close to my family. Even if I, you know, was in Nashville, hour and a half away. Prior to that, I was in Austin with my sister. So, you know, three hour flight from home. There's something that you just feel deeply about being so far away. And sometimes you don't feel it as much and then it'll just be days. Especially when you're like all cozyed up in bed and it hits.
And I'm thinking, my gosh, I'm so far away from everyone. It's a weird spatial thing where I'm like, no, I'm not just a flight, but I'm like an ocean apart. And I think getting used to when your day's ending, they're in the middle of the day, and it's really weird when it's different, you're going through life at different paces. But also there is something kind of nice about that, because I can like.
be winding down and someone's starting their day. So I don't know. It's a weird.
Speaker 2 (12:42.715)
to think about actually. Family then, have you been back to see them since?
So I went back last May and then I have another upcoming trip this May. I really, May like springtime in Tennessee is gorgeous. It's so pretty.
What like what are some of the big things? Like what does it look like? Tell me.
Tennessee is very luscious. There's so many trees, so when you're driving on the highway, you're just like, I don't know, surrounded by lusciousness, is that a word? And it's just so green. you have clear blue skies.
No tall buildings.
Speaker 1 (13:24.858)
No, I mean in Nashville you have some but it's like they're not huge. Yeah, and especially where I'm from rural Tennessee. We have no tall buildings and It's really pretty and when you just like go out to the lake or something like yeah, so fun Yeah, parents and one of my brothers really enjoy paddle boarding and we're like a 10 minute drive from a really nice big lake And it's just so perfect your little sun hat on It's house and you go It's really nice. Yeah
Ideal.
Is it hard then visiting to then, you know, that day that you're coming back to London or is it just like, yeah, it's great, but my home right now is London?
I think it's like that. Yeah. Because I really enjoy my time there, but then there's something where I'm like, okay, I'm ready for the fast pace of London again. And I don't know, I think I definitely appreciate the country more the older I get because it's really nice when you can just walk outside into this big yard. Y'all would call it a garden.
big yard and you're like, my gosh, I can touch grass and where my family's from, we're surrounded by trees and there's so much privacy and you're like, I feel so connected and grounded and that's so nice. And I think when you're always on in a city, you're kind of like, I crave that. And then after I've been there for a while, I'm like, I crave being constantly going go, go, go, go,
Speaker 2 (14:53.292)
So tell us why you came to London. What was the, what's the long-term goal? Like your career, maybe some of your work that you're now doing. Was that always in your mind? Yeah.
Yes. So I went to school for fashion design and when I decided to go, I didn't know exactly which route I wanted to do. I'm the type of person that every week I want to be someone new, I want to try something else. I was told I'm the most fickle person I know, but at least I own it. And it keeps life exciting. But when I was first studying, I knew that ultimately I wanted to start my own business.
Exactly.
Speaker 1 (15:33.474)
Didn't know what that looked like, but I love designing, I love connecting with people, I love making beautiful things. Yeah. Yeah. So I have been sewing for 15 years now, and that's my favorite part of design, is the construction and taking something from your mind, making it into three-dimensional.
clothing.
Speaker 2 (15:57.794)
That's crazy. What's the thing you're most impressed by that you've made?
There's a lot of different things that I've loved making. I'm currently designing a wedding dress and I have the toile, is like the mock-up. It's a... What's the word that I'm looking for? Yes, prototype. I was like, how do I explain this? So it's the prototype of what the dress will be. So you use it for fit purposes. And it's been so fun.
Bread's tight.
Speaker 1 (16:32.46)
seeing it come together and I had the first fitting with my client last week and it was so special. So even though that's a work in progress, that might be one of my favorite things. But in college, I had a senior collection, which we did at the end of our final year and that was really rewarding because it was this eight piece collection. It was an androgynous collection and I used secondhand materials throughout the process. So it was really nice to like...
Go thrifting and find old curtains and tablecloths and like dye things and like use fabrics from dresses and like incorporate that into the design process. So two very different genres of fashion there, but yeah, I don't know if I could...
you always wanted to design and you do something creative.
Yeah. I think before I went to design school, I was a little bit more, maybe a little bit more technical because I loved sewing, I loved the construction. I would use commercial patterns. If anyone sews like Simplicity McCall's, they're very common like brands of commercial patterns that is a pattern someone else has designed and then you just use it and you sew it. So I loved that aspect. And then when I went to design school,
I felt like I really learned the principles of design and creating and it was cool to bring the analytical side of being a really talented seamstress into designing and learning how to sketch and turn those sketches into my own designs and like learn a little bit more of the creative side of it. Because I think that I've always been creative but I haven't always known how
Speaker 1 (18:19.79)
to put it into practice.
Yes. So is it when you come to London you've had some opportunities? How have you done that?
So when I was studying here, I interned with this amazing upcycling designer. His name's Herbie Mensah, and he is just an incredible person, first and foremost. Really fun guy to talk to, friend that I consider now. And I met him at Portobello Market through a professor at the school that I went to. And he's been selling vintage at Portobello for years.
And during the pandemic, he had an overstock of vintage pieces that he didn't want to discard. And so he started upcycling. And the designs are so cool. They're very unique, very... I don't know how to explain it. It has a very London vibe, but it's also like very herby. So if you look up him on Instagram and you see some designs, I feel like you'll get that feeling.
And so I started interning with him and was just learning so much about repurposing because he has a really distinct way of upcycling and using secondhand pieces and how he designs. So that was a really great opportunity to keep learning how to incorporate existing materials into design. And so at the end of the summer, he told me, if you come back, I have work for you.
Speaker 1 (19:45.868)
and I would love to have you around the studio to keep designing. And so that was my first in, in design here in London.
So do you think being in London is really the place right now? Obviously, because when people talk about fashion, and designing and creative, they think New York or London. So you really think that move has been great for you, right? Yeah. To meet the connections, yeah, meet people. Yeah. Yeah.
think so. I think one of my favorite aspects of London is there are so many opportunities here and so many people that want to have you in their collaborative space. I feel like it's a very collaborative city. You do? I think so. Wow. What do you think?
I mean, obviously I'm in a different space. So I wouldn't say I'm making a podcast is perhaps collaborative and creative. And maybe I'm actually starting to see that a little bit more with the podcast space. But yeah, I feel like sometimes it can be dog eat dog. Like people are a bit closed off, but maybe that's just a very different industry that I'm not used to. So it's quite nice. It's quite refreshing to hear that about London because you often hear the negative side, which is
everyone's out for themselves. I'm glad that it's clearly working for you as well.
Speaker 1 (21:04.844)
I mean, I definitely think that it's just like anywhere you can find the groups that you don't resonate with and then others where you're this is the most magical city and the most magical people. I've definitely been in some spaces where I'm like, whoa, everyone here has a very cold energy and this is not it.
Do you see that more in London than back home? Or do you think it's just generally everywhere you've been? Because for example, when I visit Canada, I'm just like, and anyone I talk to about Canada, the word that always comes up is community. Everyone's about community, working together, like supporting each other. But you know, there are some places you say it is like, it's cold, people are against each other. So
Yeah, I don't have a good grasp on comparing it because when I was in Nashville that was where I went to college and it was a very collaborative communal vibe. Everyone knew everyone. When I was in Austin that was just for six months and I don't feel like I was going out there like I am here so it's kind of hard to compare it.
I think one thing, if I could put my finger on it, that I've noticed since living here is I think that you get a really good read sometimes on whether someone is being authentic if they want to collaborate with you versus they're just saying that. And I think that sometimes, I've been in environments back in the States, I don't know if I've experienced it here in the same way, but where it's like, we should do this together.
and we should work on this and collaborate on it, and then it never happens. Whereas here I feel like people say it and they mean it and we do it. Yeah. But I also don't know if that's just my luck with the circle of collaborative people.
Speaker 2 (22:52.354)
Maybe it's your energetic personality.
Maybe I do like to keep the needle moving forward. Like, let's go.
Love it. Yeah, see, that's really interesting you say that because I sometimes feel that here. we should do this together with you. And you know, you don't really mean it. And I'm not going to chase you because I've kind of got to that point in my life where I don't I won't chase people anymore. I think I can say on here, maybe I'll cut it out when I asked it. But there's been people, for example, that have said, I really want to come on your podcast and you'll never hear from them again. Well, why did you why did you ask?
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (23:23.246)
Yeah
Yeah. Why? You know, there was no need for you to do that. So there is a bit of that sometimes. I'm like, I take things with a pinch of salt nowadays, but maybe, maybe I'm older.
Yeah, well, I think you realize that your time is really important. And I think the older that I get and the more responsibilities and the more things that I'm doing, the more that I really value the time that I spend with people in any like form, whether it's going out, creative collaboration. Like, I really want to honor that person's time, but also my own time.
Speaker 2 (24:06.894)
And what about away from the creative stuff then? like personally, obviously moving from anyone's home town, I suppose, you know, when I came to London, I discovered a different side of me. there bits of you that you didn't know existed? Like are there bits that you're finding out about yourself being in this crazy city that's London?
I definitely think there's something about being so far away from where you're from that you kind of get to reinvent yourself. No one knows me here and I can like put on a different persona today. And I think like my good friends know that I'm always like, which one of my personality is going to come out today? I have about six. I'm on Gemini, I can't help it. And I think with being able to like put on these different, you know,
characters and feel different ways and be in so many different scenes here. I think it's helped me come back to the core of who I am. Really? And I don't know if that's going to be too like conceptual, but I feel like, you know, one day it can be very rock and roll and go out to this really cool underground club in London. And then, you know, the next day I'm, you know, finding myself at a service at Westminster Abbey.
Perfect.
I'm just like, this is so cool. Like you can do any and everything in London. And I feel like there's just so much to explore. think people are so open-minded here. And I feel like that's because it is such a such a international city and everyone from everywhere is here and we're all coexisting and we all have a reason that we're here, which I find really exciting. And it feels like
Speaker 1 (25:55.766)
opportunities and learning and anything is possible and endless. Yeah. In a way.
I love that because I definitely, every time we've spoken, there's like a different type of story. So remember the day you went on a hike, right? In Seven Sisters. Is that right? You did a long walk. Is it Seven
Seven Sisters is the other one. but it was like, was the Dover.
It's not the seven sisters in Northland.
No, no, no, I know, but it's similar to Seven Sisters, but it's like a cliff like further back. Different cliff, same, same word, different font.
Speaker 2 (26:34.434)
Yeah, but you went on a long walk and you like walking, Yeah. So like that is very different to an underground club vibe. But I still see it as you. So it's quite nice and refreshing to hear that you're just exploring and finding your way.
Yeah. Yeah.
Speaker 1 (26:49.71)
So yeah, I mean, I think that's the cool thing about life. There's just so much, like so many things to do. I think I'm a very like, I can get bored very easily. Can you? Which is a good and bad thing, I think sometimes, but it makes me like, I'm so curious. I want to know so much about anything. And I think that's also seen in like the random things that'll do where I'm like, let's take a train and I'm going to go hike.
Yeah. Or let's go to like a new pub that I haven't been to and go talk to like the locals here.
get the sense that you're not afraid to try anything.
Yeah, there's little I think that I would say no to. Yeah.
That's amazing.
Speaker 2 (27:37.486)
So obviously we talk about coffee on this podcast. Are you a coffee person? Do you like coffee? if you're like, what's your go-to order? Right now you're drinking mint tea.
Yeah.
I'm drinking mint tea, but that's good because I've had two lattes. Have you? Okay. Previously to this. I think if I had another coffee, I'd be bouncing off the walls. And you're so cool, calm, collected. Am I? Yeah. I, it's funny cause I feel like I'm the type of person where a younger version of me would be like, that's so lame. But if I drink too much coffee, I'm like,
Think about my f-
Speaker 2 (28:10.2)
Yeah
Meanwhile in college I was like, let me just get my fifth cup today and I'm fine. But I'm like, whoa, if I have too much coffee, especially after 2 PM, I'm going to be buzzing for the rest of the day.
I feel like I've got to the point I've gone beyond it. So I'm just like, I'm like, used to, I did not, I didn't think it affected me. mid twenties, mid to late twenties, I was like, yeah, I can drink coffee quite late at night. I normally. As I got into my thirties, I noticed that I was like waking up to go to the toilet a lot more. So I'm like, maybe it's the coffee. Maybe I stop that. So yeah, generally mid afternoon is my last one.
I like I actually drink coffee before bed, helps me sleep. I know someone else that does that.
Speaker 2 (28:48.654)
I wouldn't have it after that. And some people like have it after dinner and I'm like, that's crazy.
Very Italian. Very Italian. I remember my first time in Italy when I was with my sister. We're like, can we have a little espresso? Because I think we've gotten a chocolate cake, but we were like decaf. And of course, they're like...
Whatever. Did you like Milan?
I did, but they didn't give us decaf. So we're both in bed like jet lagged and fully awake.
We are not sleeping tonight.
Speaker 1 (29:20.27)
We're like, we're not even gonna attempt to try to order a decaf espresso next time. We just go with that. We were trying to be like the locals.
Speaker 1 (29:31.522)
Go to order out is regular hot latte.
Really? Any favorite coffee shops?
I really love, there's a cute one in kind of Dalston, Stoke Newington called Mellow Cafe. It's really cute, really small, but they have these sweet orange like crusade mugs. And so every time I go in there, it's very like...
Okay.
Speaker 2 (29:53.698)
Are they the bright orange ones? my god, so beautiful.
Mm-hmm. Yeah. It's really sweet. It's nice. Yeah. Everyone's there is so nice.
Did you, have you always been a coffee person since like your adult years?
Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. I got into coffee a lot in Nashville because Nashville is very known for like all its different coffee shops and everyone's a coffee snob there. Have you ever heard of a Chemex? The... Okay. A lot of people in London haven't heard of So my sister actually got me into that. And so at home, I love making them pour over. Because I never used to drink black coffee until I started doing that. And the filter takes out
Yes.
Speaker 1 (30:35.096)
the acidity, the bitterness. So it's like a really nice cup of coffee. And then when I'm out, my treats last.
So you really do like coffee? Yeah. Yeah, I love that.
But I don't feel like I'm a coffee snob until someone's like, what is it, Chemex? No. It's actually very chill.
No, know. Yeah. think coffee, the scene of coffee is changing and people are much more into it. And I feel like, chains like are convenient and they serve their purpose. And of course I go to prep. I never go to Starbucks anymore, but I go to prep when I need to. but I would much rather find a good, decent coffee. Right. I just think, yeah, I think people are getting more on board with it. So not a coffee stop. No.
We just like nice things.
Speaker 2 (31:22.222)
Exactly.
Speaker 2 (31:29.624)
So thinking about the future, obviously you're, you know, very early stages of your design, your creative stuff, but like, what, what is your current? I'm going to say current because I think it will change. But what do want to do in the future? Like what's your ultimate career goal?
To own my own business. I really want to build a bridal brand catered towards the eclectic avant-garde brides. I've always really enjoyed the bridal industry. It was my first internship in design school, was interning with this really fun brand in Nashville. And it felt really special to be part of such a big grandiose occasion.
And I think the bridal industry is the last part of fashion that normal people get things custom made for them. And that's such a cool experience to be a part of. You know, back in the olden days, everyone had their own modiste or someone in their family that could sew for them or they could sew for themselves. And so being able to still carry through that art form.
Because to me, is art, make-cloth making is art. Yeah. Is really special. And so, in college, I'd done both menswear, womenswear, androgynous clothing, and I love doing that, still do. But since I've been here and exploring more and working as a bridal stylist too, I keep falling in love with bridal. Do you? And so...
I'd always known that I wanted to start something, but wasn't quite sure. And so after doing a lot of self-reflection and thinking, Bridal's always been the one that I've come back to. Yeah. And so a few months ago, I started the Maratelier and have just been posting on Instagram, kind of my mood board of what Bridal to me looks like, what it could look like.
Speaker 2 (33:21.294)
you come back.
Speaker 1 (33:39.232)
showing bits of my past work that I've done. so the goal is to build that and to get more bridal clients and design really interesting dresses and outfits for people that can't find their dream look in the existing market.
Do know, it is so hard. Like we got married last year and obviously neither of us wore a dress. I say obviously, but I mean, we just didn't. But actually finding something for such a special occasion is hard. Even for guys, mean guys I think it's much easier because a suit generally is a suit. But if you want something custom, I think it's really hard. And there's too much of the same stuff I imagine for brides. So for you to be able to create something and bring...
.
Speaker 1 (34:20.12)
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (34:27.008)
someone's ideas alive using your creative process as well. think that's super special. really, I'm quite excited. I want to see these mood boards. Yeah, definitely. Where do you want it to be? Like an online place, a physical place? Like what do you, yeah. Where do want to take the business?
That's a great question. And I think we'll see. I would ideally love to have my own atelier, a space where I can welcome clients in to come and feel inspired and do fittings. Right. I suppose. Exactly. So right now what I'm able to do is at home fittings, which feels really special and really intimate. And there is something really cozy about getting to
Because it's much more personal.
Speaker 1 (35:17.24)
come into someone's space and to have this really intimate experience. So even though the goal is to have this studio one day, working with the limited space and going into people's homes is really cool. So it's like, I'm enjoying that process.
Yeah. It's even more personal.
Exactly. But I would love to have a studio. I think I would definitely like to expand, so be based in London, but have a spot back home as well. The dream is to be here three quarters of the year, back in the States for a quarter. Particularly winter time.
Okay.
Speaker 2 (36:04.279)
Yes, but London is where you where you see yourself for for quite a while
For quite a while. think so. There's just something about being here. I feel like every other week there's a new challenge that's thrown and it feels really dramatic and I'll have a good cry and I'll be like, what am I doing here? But then after I get over that hump, I'm such a romantic. I'm thinking, I love my life. I love it. I love living here. I need one of those shirts that says, heart London. Because I really do.
And I just, feel like such a main character. When I go into central London, especially by Tower Bridge or Westminster, I'm just thinking, wow, I'm so blessed that I get to be here. And so I don't know, I'm open to if that changes, you know, where one day I might not feel that way, but I see myself being based here. There's a dream that I have that maybe one day when my nephews and nieces are older, they'll study abroad and can be like, come stay with your Aunt Mare.
Yeah, come and join you here. I love your energy, the way you talk about it. And yeah, it's really refreshing because not often in London, you get to have that energy or chat to someone with such energy about it. So I'm really, yeah, I'm really happy just for that itself. Like it's so nice.
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (37:20.45)
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (37:29.294)
I think it's a little bit of an expat thing because one of my other good friends he is from Australia and we talk a lot about the cultural differences between where we're both from and the UK and how there's some things with British culture we're like wow that's so negative and we understand where that's coming from but then it's cool because we have our own experience being from very different places and we're bringing that energy.
And it is kind of fun to be like, actually, why don't we think about it in a more optimistic way or something that's a little bit more joyful.
Yeah, for sure, for sure. And you visited Japan recently. What about Japan? Because I think it's a crazy, crazy place. It's definitely somewhere. Because your sister's there,
Yes.
Speaker 1 (38:11.97)
Yeah. Never live. Yeah. My brother. Brother. Yeah, one of my brothers. I did go with my sister. We turned a lot. You see a theme here. I really liked it. The people were incredibly kind, very hospitable. Food was amazing. I liked the fashion.
What about fashion? Because I don't know if you noticed, but at rush hour, every man looks the same.
Yes. Well, I was going to say it's very monochromatic. Yes. A lot of grays and blacks. Yeah. Not very color-centric, which you know, in London, there's a lot of kind of darker colors, but you go to a market and you see someone that's like dressed in an orange outfit. You got like the London grunge and then there's like a fabulous lady in her fifties wearing the most iconic outfit. I did like the fashion in Tokyo.
Exactly.
Speaker 1 (39:07.042)
But it didn't compare to London. very different. And it's hard because when I travel, now I'm always comparing everything to London. But London has this. Or London has this. That's really interesting. it's kind of nice because I think with London, I like to get out every few months to like really re-appreciate it. And I'm like, OK, I'm ready to go back home. I'm ready to go back to London.
That's such a special feeling. And it's not by default your hometown anymore. You're comparing it to London.
Yeah. Yeah. Wow. I feel like I can be a little bit more loud here. Yes. And I liked how you queue up for the train and for public transportation there. But equally, as soon as I got back into London, I was like, let the chaos begin.
Yeah, it's very different.
Because you you are in Tokyo and you're thinking wow we are so disorganized here in London and people just are Running by in the tube and we're just running on like high cortisol levels, and this is crazy everyone in Tokyo's Chill it was quiet. I swear. I heard one siren there. Thought this is weird how quiet the city is and so I think that I kind of like
Speaker 2 (40:16.29)
Really?
Speaker 1 (40:23.404)
bits of the chaos and the loudness. though sometimes it's like, wow, I knew that I could trip and fall and no one would stop at the tube. They'd just be like, I gotta go.
Speaker 2 (40:38.19)
So thinking back to coffee, if there was someone that you could have coffee with dead alive, who would it be? Why? Where would you take them?
This is a hard one because I have so many different interests and curiosities. I think this is very niche, but Sylvia Plath, so she is an author. Have you heard of the bell jar? Okay. I don't know what type of genre you're into, but the bell jar, read it during, actually shortly after I moved here, it was recommended by one of my really good friends.
Don't I?
Speaker 1 (41:19.726)
That book just, it was one of those books that you read and you feel weirdly connected to it. Really? That doesn't really happen for me with a lot of books. And it's just a great story about this girl that's in New York and she, it's back in the, I think it takes place in the 60s. And she's just so unsure of what she wants to do with life. I don't know if you've heard of the fig tree analogy. Yes. Where it's like each fig is a different reality that you could have.
And there's just a lot of darkness and kind of the, I don't want to say the female experience, but kind of like this feeling that a lot of young women who are like, there's a reality in which I could be married and have a family. There's a reality where I could be this journalist in New York. There's a reality that I could be this insane artist and kind of going through the grief that you have in choosing.
one of those paths and knowing that at any time you can change and redirect, but also like the overwhelm of thinking the world's my oyster, but I have to figure out which, you know, which one to take, because if you don't make a choice, you'll just, well, if you read the book, you'll understand. I don't want to spoil the analogy. And she has a lot of other great works and poems. And so based on that book and
learning a little bit more about her life. I just want to know what she was like as a person. Because a lot of people have said they think that that book is kind of based on her life. Really? Yeah, even though it's fiction. And so I'd love to ask her a couple of questions. Yeah. I would take her to...
Where would you take her?
Speaker 1 (43:10.69)
Bongo Java, which is my favorite coffee shop in Nashville. It's right across the street from Belmont, the school that I went to. And it's just my favorite coffee shop. So many sweet coffee dates there, studying. They also do an amazing raspberry latte, one pump of raspberry syrup. Yeah. Haven't been able to that here. A lot of places don't have syrups and I'm not like a huge sweet coffee drinker, but a little bit of like a lavender latte. Have you ever had?
No, Starbucks are it at the moment. I've seen. I know.
You know, there was a place that I went to a couple of weeks ago near Columbia road market. yeah. And I got a lavender latte there. It was good. I can't remember the name. If I think of it, can't remember the vouch. But it was the only place that I've been in London that had syrups that weren't hazelnut or vanilla. did try a strawberry iced
Was it nice?
Speaker 2 (44:05.61)
It's always the same, right? They're of sugar, so...
Speaker 1 (44:12.438)
Latte from Blank Street. Wow. That was like sugar overload. I was like, can't even taste the coffee. I just want just a tiny little pump.
Totally.
Speaker 2 (44:27.022)
Big life lesson, bit of advice. Obviously you've done a big move, like from everything you knew, you've started something brand new. Like is there anything that just sticks with you that you wish you could share with other people?
You know, I think what I've been learning a lot in the last couple months actually, but it's kind of been a continual theme in my life the last couple years is to really kind of loosen the grip on the things that I want and to trust and lean into the process of it all. I think it's so easy to get obsessed with
I'm going to do this and this is how it's going to be and this is what I want and this is how we're doing it. And then you have an obstacle that comes in the way and you get super frustrated because you didn't see that coming. That's not part of the plan. And I think that the more we loosen the grip on these things that we really desire and hold tightly, we open ourselves up to kind of this cool magnetic field of opportunity, people, places, things that you never expect.
It sounds cheesy, but I really believe that rejection is protection, redirection, or you're not ready for it, or something better's coming. And it's funny because in the moment when shit's hitting the fan, it's hard to believe that. It's like, rejection is protection. But I am a very reflective person and I keep seeing these constant themes of like, this time last year I was getting rejected from all these jobs I was applying to.
and I now have this amazing job as a stylist. I love going into work. It's such a joy to do what I do. And I continually think about, man, I'm so grateful that I didn't get an interview and that I didn't get a job working for these corporate places that I was applying to. Because I was in this corporate application process for a while where I was like, let me just do technical design and go work for a big company, which is so not me.
Speaker 2 (46:35.256)
Exactly.
But, you know, it was one of those personalities where I was like, let me be a little corporate London girl. And I know that if I was... If everything had gone how I wanted it a year ago, that I would not be feeling creatively fulfilled right now.
Totally. I think you would always come back to it. Yeah. You're just going to delay the process, I think. Because sometimes I'm guilty of it. I think a lot of us are, right? We're not comfortable just sitting in the here and now and riding it out.
Because we avoid discomfort at all costs. Of course. And I think that the more that we can embrace the unknown and to be detached, like really learning to detach from things, the easier life is. Maybe not easier, but the more we move through life in a graceful way. Because when you can accept that you're going to go through grief, you're going to go through rejection,
you're gonna go through something that you have no idea and it's really scary in whatever realm that is, whether it's a loss and something comes up emotionally, a big emotion you've never felt, a career thing, a financial, it could be anything. I think for me, accepting that there's only so much I can do and accepting that that's a part of life and wishing that away is wishing away life has been...
Speaker 1 (48:00.096)
Really profound, but also just like, wow, life's so good. Had a bad day, I'm going to feel that and I'm going to validate that. at the end of the day, I'm living in London. I have such beautiful friends, connections. I have people that love me not only here, but in multiple states back home. I have really cool, thrifted clothes. I people that trust me to make their wedding dresses.
You
Speaker 1 (48:29.336)
I have a job that I enjoy going to. It's not always been this way. And even the last week I've had crazy things happen with rent and figuring out, or not rent, but figuring out living situation. Anyone that knows the moving process in London and flat hunt gets it. It's intense. So tough. But knowing that, okay, this is gonna be a good story. Most of the things that feel...
really crappy in the moment are going to be something that we either laugh about in, you know, a few months, a few years, or it's something that we learn from.
I love that. Such a special bit of advice. Yeah, just really reflecting on my own life, suppose. Yeah. Thank you. Super genuine. And I, you know, sometimes people are, yeah, you know, take this bit of advice, whatever I truly can see it in you and like you live each day. So.
Yeah, thanks. It's a work in progress.
Speaker 2 (49:36.054)
Is there something you've had to unlearn about yourself?
That's a deep one. Unlearn.
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (49:45.102)
don't know if this is, is it unlearn? Relearn? I think that like, I don't have to know. I don't have to know and that kind of goes with the detaching. So I don't have to know exactly how the end goal of the business that I want to build is gonna look. I don't know, I have to know what the end goal of a romantic relationship is gonna be. I don't have to know where my next...
Maybe not unlearn, maybe re-learn.
Speaker 1 (50:13.966)
big project is gonna come. And I think that it's a weird one because it's kind of a little bit of nuance because I'm very like dream driven and if I have an idea in my head I'm like let's go, I wanna make it happen. But I'm also so aware that when I...
attached too much to that thing that I kind of put blinders on to these other opportunities and people and things. And so I always want to be operating from a place of like curiosity and never like, I know it all. I figured it out. and I think there was a past version of me that was really like, my God, I need, I need to have all this figured out and I need to know exactly how to say this and articulate myself.
and to, I want to be perceived this way. And now I'm just like, yeah, I'm here. I live in a lot of nuance. I a lot of space for my contradictions and I know I have them and I know that next week I could have a different opinion than I have this week. But I think that's a cool thing. I always want to be learning. I'm curious. They curiosity kills the cat, but there's like the rest of the phrase to that. can't remember.
amazing.
Speaker 2 (51:27.382)
Yeah, me neither. Everyone who just says that bit.
Yeah, I was anyways. It hasn't killed me yet
Speaker 2 (51:40.878)
right, it's time for the quick fire round. Don't be nervous. First thing you do in the morning.
nervous.
wake up.
Okay, second thing you do...
Do you know that is actually the first thing that everyone does, but it's not the answer that people give.
Speaker 1 (51:59.918)
Actually, I hit snooze is the first thing. Let's be real honest
Let's be real, that's fine. Be honest, coffee or tea? A guilty pleasure you'll never give up. Really? I'm really struggling with TikTok.
TikTok scrolling.
Speaker 1 (52:15.918)
algorithm. It's so fun!
Favorite place you visited, why?
Probably Cinque Terre because it was my first, that was when I was in Italy and it was gorgeous. It was my first time seeing the Mediterranean and colorful, gorgeous. mean, definitely a bit touristy, but I mean, your first time in Europe, gorgeous. Yeah, it's really special.
You're always remember that. Favorite way to spend your day off?
Exploring the city, thrifting, coffee with a friend, cocktail maybe in the evening. Wow. I love, love just exploring.
Speaker 2 (52:53.422)
Perfect. If you could time travel, would you go forwards or backwards? I went to.
Ooh backwards.
either the 60s or 20s.
Really? Like super far back?
Yeah, that's not that far back.
Speaker 2 (53:12.91)
Okay, in the context of this podcast so far on You'll Be Episode 13, most people have said like a previous point of their life, but actually, which is nice because I never thought about it.
Okay.
Speaker 1 (53:24.046)
Yeah, I feel like I'm old school. I feel like I have an old soul. So I'm like, I think that's why I love thrifting and finding old things. So I just want to know if how I envision, you know, the sixties or twenties, those are two decades I'm very fascinated by. If they're like how I envisioned. Yeah, that's cool. mean, they might be a little bit scary as a woman going back to foreign time. We'll focus on the corvettes.
Yeah, exactly. If you know what's the weirdest thing you've googled recently.
I don't know. Should I get my phone and see? If you want. Okay. I always have about 66 safari tabs. Oh, but I'm like my grandma. Okay. Um.
if you can share.
Speaker 2 (54:07.618)
This is actual real life.
Okay, yes, this was literally just last night. do you know? I'll show I'll st. Teresa why Someone gave me a st. Teresa card last night. Okay. Yeah, we were having this really sweet connection they were one of my clients at my styling job and she was just talking about roses and Catholicism and it was like this like
really beautiful, deep conversation. And then we were just talking about like how crazy it was that we had like met each other. it was just like getting really deep and it was really sweet and really special connection. And she kept talking about the St. Teresa and roses. And she was like, it's just so special that we've met tonight. And I was like, did you like say a prayer to her tonight? She's like, no, but like like, like pray to her. I don't know if pray was the right word anyways. I was like, well my middle name's Rose. And she was like, no way. And I said, no, it is.
He's like, I have something for you. And I've never been given like a card. It was really special. And it has the St. Teresa prayer. And so I looked her up and she was this very progressive, non devout Catholic. And I actually want to read up more about her. Yeah, that's what I was scrolling last night.
They are.
Speaker 2 (55:25.582)
That's actually the best answer I've ever had. Thank you. Very niche. Thanks for being honest. A small amount of joy that you've experienced recently.
Yeah
Speaker 1 (55:35.054)
That was really sweet. know, earlier today when I got a coffee with one of my friends, she's visiting from Paris, and we were just talking about the joy within resistance and how as creatives it feels like you can constantly kind of think that you're going against something and you have this idea and then you get rejection or someone doesn't like it or you...
Yes. Are succeeding in your creativity, but something's happening in your flat share. And just talking about when you're focused on what you're doing, your passion, and you're like, okay, it's all going to be okay. It's kind of going with that detachment where it's like, this is just a, it feels like a mountain in the middle of the road, but it's just a little bump. I love that. And it's really sweet to have people in my life that you can...
You can kind of talk about the shitty things that happen, but there's always a sense of it's not that big of a deal and it's gonna be okay. Because that really fills up my cup. And I feel like in this stage of life where a lot of things feel unstable and you're like, who am I? What's happening? It's really nice to have those people in your life that you can just come together and be like, yeah, this is life in our twenties.
important. I'm so pleased that you've got that as well. Thank you so much. having me. Thank you. It's been great to have you. And you know, we know each other from a kind of work level, but it's nice to get to really know you and see that energy come through and like, yeah, some of your backstory. I really appreciate it.
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (57:07.573)
Yeah
Speaker 1 (57:12.911)
knew a year and a half ago when we first met. I know. be sitting here. So special.
I know exactly. So where can people connect with you? Find out about what you do next? Where? Yeah. Where you take your, work and your goals.
Yeah, so my Instagram is the Marateli-A. So like I said earlier, right now it's kind of a mixture of what's going on in my design brain, mood boards, sketches, different fun things on there. And I'm currently working on a website, so I'll have that posted to Instagram when it's ready. photos have finished. Works in progress coming soon.
can't wait. I will tag you in the episode description so people can click that link and find out. So thank you so much for being here. We'll see you soon. Thanks.
Thanks for having me.
Speaker 2 (58:03.128)
Thank you so much for tuning in to Chatter Beans. hope you enjoyed today's conversation. If you liked this episode, don't forget to subscribe and leave a review. And for more behind the scenes moments, guest updates and a peek into the world of Chatter Beans, follow us on Instagram at chatter.beans. Until next time, grab a coffee, sit back and let's keep chatting.