First Marfa Muse - Deborah Brett
Meet Deborah Brett, our first Marfa Muse. Georgia first met Deborah at an event back in 2020, where the fashion editor instantly connected with the style meets function design ethos of Marfa Stance. Deborah is a wonderful supporter and advocate for female founded brands and so we were thrilled when she agreed to be our first ever muse and launch our much-loved Marfa Muse series. It's now a huge honour to support Deborah's own incredible line of ceramics and host and partner on events and pop-ups from London to LA. Long may our partnership continue!
Deborah is wearing her original Shearling Quilt in Blush in size S attached with a Shearling Collar in Orange. Her second look is her Parachute Vest in Black/Stone in M-L styled with a Corduroy Collar in Cobalt.
Tell us about your background and talk us through your career journey so far
I studied fashion design at Central St Martin’s and changed halfway through to Fashion Journalism. It meant when I graduated I walked straight into a job at the Times as Deputy Fashion Editor. I loved the fast-paced nature of working there, reporting from the shows as well as having my own style column. I then moved to Harper’s Bazaar as their senior editor and fashion features Director and then spent fifteen years as a contributor to Red Magazine. I styled shows, did advertising campaigns and consulted for brands such as Matthew Williamson, Jenny Packham and Jimmy Choo as well as working to set up the British fashion council’s charitable arm called the Fashion Trust which gives mentorship to emerging talent. Six years ago I retrained as a ceramicist and started my own ceramics brand db Ceramic eighteen months ago selling decorative tableware. It’s been a real whirlwind.
What advice do you have for fellow female entrepreneurs?
Create your own community. I’ve been so lucky to have built up a coterie of amazing fellow female entrepreneurs and we all help each other both with advice and as a sounding board but also with showcasing our work together and being vocal champions of each other’s work. I’ve been lucky enough for more established brands to have taken me under their wing and I hope to do the same.
What are you most proud of?
Showing my three kids, especially my girls, my fear and lack of knowledge when it comes to starting my own company. I think our children think we know everything and that it all comes really naturally and easy to us as parents. It’s been good for them to see my struggle and perseverance. To show them that if they are passionate about something; it takes drive and tenacity and failures too, but these are all part of the experience.
As an early supporter and our first ever Marfa Muse, do you remember how you first discovered Marfa Stance and why do you like our brand?
I remember discovering the brand and meeting Georgia at her first press day with Rainbowwave.I just fell in love with the pieces and the concept and I made Georgia talk me through it on video so i could post it to my followers on Instagram. She was so reluctant to be on camera but I felt it was important to hear why these pieces were so special and they are. The original coat from that first collection is still one of my favourites. I love the unusual colour combinations, the use of dead stock fabrics and the luxury craftsmanship, the boldness yet practical designs.
How do you style your Marfa Stance pieces and what is your favourite combination?
Oh that’s such a hard question. I love each piece specifically for its uniqueness. I think my shearling and leather bomber with the aviator colour is super cool. It’s so warm and classic but with a twist and every time i wear it I get compliments. My favourite accessory has to be the knitted hoods. I'm obsessed with them and have two and my parachute vest is my unexpected hero piece. I wear it over my gym kit on the school run, over a chunky knit, under a coat or over a blazer when i need that extra layer and even over a slip dress at Glastonbury. It’s so useful. And then of course there are the options to wear with a shearling collar, on its own or with a knitted hood. It’s a definite winner.
How have you updated and renewed your first ever Marfa Stance piece?
I love adding different sorbet shearling collars and the knitted hoods, simple but so transformative.