Spotlight On: Marlen Wolff from Stitch & Hide

Hi Marlen! Tell us a little about yourself and what you do :)

Hi! I’m Marlen Wolff and I’m the Creative & Marketing Manager at Stitch & Hide. I am originally from Germany and moved to Australia 5 years ago. I’m very lucky to call Byron Bay my home. I love everything about Byron Bay – the weather, the beaches, the food, the people, and of course my job!

What’s your background and how did you get started in the industry?

Design and creativity have always been part of my life. When I was young, my mother would help to create and design clothes I envisioned. She would always find me drawing and scribbling away. It’s passion of mine that I’m lucky to now have turned into a career.

I studied graphic design in Europe and I worked for several years with an international fashion company prior to coming to Australia and working for Stitch & Hide.

Can you tell us ‘who’ Stitch & Hide is as a brand and introduces us to the team?

Stitch & Hide blends the cultures and lifestyles of both Australia and Southern California… from Byron Bay to LA. The natural beauty of these two places is reflected in our rugged, yet classically styled products. The designs are everlasting and enduring. Our product line for men and women includes a full collection of beautifully crafted wallets, belts, card holders, clutches, bags and belts. 

Made from the finest quality leathers by the hands of skilled craftsmen, the treatments implemented in creating our products are natural processes, using time-honoured techniques and formulas that were developed by ancient and traditional methods. Our leather is prepared using the vegetable tanning process which produces only the finest and most luxurious products. 

The earth was here before us, not the other way around, so it comes naturally to us to run our business according to industries best practices and with great respect for both the environment and people. We take responsibility for our part in nature’s cycles and will continually seek for new ways to increase our knowledge and improve the sustainability of our processes. We practice fair trade with a goal to maintaining long-term relationships based on solidarity, trust and mutual respect that contribute to the promotion and growth of fair trade.

Stitch & Hide Australian HQ comprises of a small team of four. Working with me in Byron Bay – Lauren: Sales & Operations Manager, Hilary: Admin & Operations Assistant and Grace: Social Media & Warehouse Assistant. We are a very small but passionate team who enjoys coming to work every day. We also have parts of our team based in LA and India. We are in contact daily and work really closely together as a team.

What does your typical day look like (if it exists!). Has it changed since starting Stitch & Hide.

My role is pretty varied and it depends on how much workload there is per day. I juggle many tasks at the one time (like most people) – ranging from graphic design, to product research, product design, managing production, planning and organisation of photoshoots, stock management and daily admin tasks. Even when I leave the office I’m always contemplating new styles and designs! That’s what I love about my job – the variety. 
My role has definitely changed since I first started at Stitch & Hide. I started off doing only graphic design but over the years I have moved into the marketing and production side. I love that I have been able to grow within the company and continue expanding my knowledge and experience. I’m always learning something new!

What is the most challenging part of running your business?

We produce four releases per year plus two limited edition releases per year so this alone keeps me quite busy with all that it entails. It’s a constant juggle to process, coordinate and balance our new collections and keeping up with the everyday workload. There never seems to be enough time! But it sure does make the days go quicker.

Time management is key!

What’s been your biggest ‘win’ since launching?

The best reward is seeing the products we design and produce sitting on the shelves in our much-loved stockists’ stores across the globe. We wouldn’t be here without them. Plus, we are always getting lovely feedback from our end customers so this makes us happy.

I love that we are able to continue to grow the company and expand the range. Introducing our larger handbags last November has been an exciting and positive development for the Stitch & Hide brand. The release of our bags has given us a broader reach in the marketplace.

Do you have any advice for people starting out in the industry?

Balance is the key. If things seem impossible and there is a lot to do and I don’t know where to start, I like to go for a walk to clear my mind. This helps me to renew my energy and thoughts, collect myself, breathe and refocus. And of course, chocolate always helps me get through a busy day 😉

What’s on the horizon for your brand?

We have just launched a new line in washed leather which myself and the team are really excited about.  Our washed leather collection gives off that uniquely ‘worn’ look and has incredible soft ‘hand feel’. The collection is a little different from our previous designs but that is what we love about it. This range is edgy yet timeless and includes a style to suit everyone’s taste and occasion. You must check it out!

If someone could only buy one new accessory next season, what should it be and why?

For the girls, definitely the Cassie clutch! Cassie is the perfect all-rounder – wear it casual or dress up for an evening out. The hardest decision is which colour! I currently have 5 and my collection and its growing! For the men out there, our new Casper wallet is a winner! It’s a funky three-fold wallet that can fit everything and comes in four awesome colours.

Now, some for us 🙂 What role does Flaunter play in your day-to-day life?

Stitch & Hide is 4 years young, so being a relatively new company in the world of fashion and accessories, Flaunter has been a great platform for us to connect with a wide variety of media agents. This platform has allowed us to expand our brand awareness and given us more exposure to well-connected people in an influential industry. Stitch & Hide is in a very exciting growth phase so any additional support we can receive from platforms such as this is a real bonus and we are very grateful. 

What’s the main problem Flaunter solves for you?

Media access and awareness. Simply by listing our latest product shots and campaign images, we are immediately reaching a large media audience and they can access us!

Find and follow Stitch & Hide on Instagram and their Website. Media can find and download all hi-res images from Stitch & Hide here.

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