Design Focus: MaryH
Swedish-born and bred accessories designer, Mary Huynh, originally came to Shanghai to explore her Chinese ancestry, but the move also lead her to follow her long-time passion for fashion and start her own brand, Designed by MaryH, in 2010.
Her first foray into the world of design were multi-use handbags that could be carried as a clutch, on the shoulder, or worn cross body, giving her customers the ability to cater one bag to different needs and occasions.
It would also set the scene for the brand, which still specializes in multi-use bags in a riot of colours.
“My Scandinavian background brings the minimal and the functional, while my Chinese background brings the colourful. I try to keep both cultures together,” Huynh explained to Talk, adding that she takes her own life and needs as inspiration when designing new products.
“I want to design things that I would like to use myself. I would like to stay with bags and shoes, if I do expand the product line, it will still be leather-related, I might make belts that match the bags or shoes, so people have the option to buy matching pieces if they want.”
Currently, Designed by MaryH has products that run the price spectrum from RMB 200, for small leather goods, up to RMB 2,000, for large convertible tote bags.
After four years in the business, Huynh is still focusing her operation on the Chinese market, which she has seen becoming more open to independent brands since she first started out, in particular responding to unique brand stories and a personal connection that’s much harder to cultivate with a large-scale luxury label.
“I think [Chinese customers] are becoming more open to design in general, they want something that suits their own personal style. It’s nice for them to hear my personal and the brand’s story as well; I think they appreciate that kind of thing,” she said.
Though it presents it’s own set of unique challenges, Huynh is still excited by the opportunities on offer in Shanghai. Though success is far from guaranteed, the designer rates the energy of the city and the willingness of its people to try new things and major pluses for her local, independent brand.
“There are a lot of opportunities, people are open, but you really need to find the right partners. You need to have the right mentality and personality to succeed here, not everyone can do it,” Huynh said.
“There are definitely enough customers here, you just have to reach them.”
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