We’re looking forward to introducing you to Mary Meisel. Check out our conversation below.
Mary, so good to connect and we’re excited to share your story and insights with our audience. There’s a ton to learn from your story, but let’s start with a warm up before we get into the heart of the interview. What is a normal day like for you right now?
It’s a mix of chaos and creativity. My day starts at 5:30 a.m. with coffee and a moment of quiet before my three daughters wake up. Getting them ready for school is a priority, and it’s also a time when I get to see what they love to wear.
After the school run, it’s straight to the office. I work with our design team and our atelier, reviewing new samples and sketching ideas for upcoming collections. Our focus is always on creating comfortable, stylish, and age-appropriate pieces. I also have calls with our sales team to check how the brand is resonating with customers.
Afternoons are for the business side of things, from reviewing production to planning our social media campaigns. When the girls are home, I switch gears and am present with them. They are my ultimate muses, and their energy reminds me why I started Meet Marie in 2018. The day ends with a family dinner, and then I might catch up on emails or relax with a book.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
My name is Mary Meisel, I’m a mother of three girls and the founder of Meet Marie, a brand I started in 2018 right here in Colombia. My daughters are my ultimate inspiration. I created this brand because I saw a need for comfortable, stylish, and age-appropriate clothes for tweens and teens.
At Meet Marie, we focus on timeless elegance with a modern twist. We design everything with mix-and-match collections in mind, making it easy for girls to build a wardrobe they love. The brand is a reflection of my belief that fashion for young girls should be about comfort and confidence, not just trends.
What makes us unique is our commitment to quality as well as creating effortless stylish pieces that can transition from day to night. I’m also focused on expanding our community and empowering young women to express themselves through fashion.
Great, so let’s dive into your journey a bit more. Who taught you the most about work?
This is a great question. While I’ve learned a lot from so many people over the years, my husband, who is a successful businessman, has been one of my greatest teachers and supporters.
He taught me the importance of combining my creative passion with a strong business strategy. I’m naturally a creative and intuitive person, and he helped me understand the importance of things like supply chain management, financial planning, and the power of a global distribution network.
He also showed me the value of perseverance. Building a brand from scratch is hard work, and there are always challenges. His unwavering belief in my vision and his calm, strategic approach to problem-solving have been invaluable. He taught me that success isn’t just about having a great idea, but about the dedication and discipline to make it a reality.
Was there ever a time you almost gave up?
Yes. The pandemic was a terrifying time. Our brand was built on clothing for special occasions, and suddenly, all of those events were gone. Our supply chain in Colombia stopped, and I remember thinking, “Who needs a new dress when they’re stuck at home?” It was a moment of crisis.
Instead of giving up, we changed everything. We started designing comfortable, versatile pieces for everyday life.
That period taught us resilience. It forced Meet Marie to become a more agile and digitally focused company. It also proved that our mission—to build confidence in young girls—is more than just about clothes. It’s about helping them feel good, no matter the circumstances. The pandemic made our brand stronger and more connected to our customers than ever.
Sure, so let’s go deeper into your values and how you think. What’s a cultural value you protect at all costs?
The cultural value I protect at all costs is the innocence and confidence of young girls. Our brand, Meet Marie, is a direct extension of my values as a mother.
In a world where children are often rushed to grow up too fast, we stand firm in our commitment to age-appropriate elegance. This means our designs are created to make a girl feel beautiful, comfortable, and confident in her own skin, without having to dress like an adult. Every piece is a celebration of her age, whether she is a tween or a young teen.
This value is at the core of every decision we make, from the styles we design to the way we market our clothes. It’s about protecting their childhood while empowering their sense of style. We’re not just selling clothes; we’re providing a safe space for them to explore fashion on their own terms, and that is a cultural value that will always be non-negotiable for our brand.
Okay, we’ve made it essentially to the end. One last question before you go. Are you doing what you were born to do—or what you were told to do?
I am absolutely doing what I was born to do.
For a long time, I followed a more traditional path. I have a background in a completely different field, and for years, I worked in a corporate setting. It was a good career, but it never felt like it was truly mine. It was more about what I was supposed to do—the expected route after getting a certain degree.
But becoming a mother changed everything. It was through my three daughters that I found my true purpose. I saw a gap in the market for clothing that was both beautiful and respectful of their age, and the idea for Meet Marie was born. The brand combines my creative passion with my business background, but its soul comes from my love for my girls.
I get to go to work every day and build something that is meaningful to me and, I hope, to the young girls who wear our clothes. It’s a brand that started in my heart and is now a reality, and there is no greater feeling than that.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.meet-marie.com
- Instagram: @meetmariethebrand
Image Credits
Alexandra Ataca
Emily Kornya
