Marylène Madou - Prints, Passion and Belgian Design
In this second installment of "Our Designers," Belgian textile designer Marylène Madou talks about experimenting with fabrics in the attic to a prestigious collaboration with the Corinthia Hotel in Brussels, this is the story of a designer forging her own path.
Photography: Stephanie Smeets
Season 1 - Episode 2: Marylène Madou
At the heart of the Belgian fashion world, a unique talent is blossoming: Marylène Madou. Her brand, an explosion of color and creativity, is proof that passion and perseverance are the keys to success.
Marylène Madou's brand, which once began with silk scarves, has grown into a full-fledged clothing and interior design collection. She does not work with traditional seasons, but with annual themes such as "The Gardener" and "The Hobbyist," which gives her the peace and space to do deep research and develop unique prints. Her iconic kaftan, built around two square scarves, is a bestseller that can even be personalized by retailers with prints from her archive.
She also discusses the challenges facing Belgian designers, such as stores' reluctance to invest in lesser-known brands and the high cost of video content for social media marketing. Her collections can be found in her own store in Bokrijk, the Corinthia Hotel in Brussels and several selected boutiques at home and abroad.
A passion for fabrics and prints
Marylène Madou's fascination with fashion began at an early age. As a teenager, she dove into her grandmother's fabric closets and taught herself to sew with the help of YouTube tutorials. "I was always passionate about fabrics and making creations," she explains in the podcast "Our Designers." Although she briefly studied fashion, she found her true calling in textile design, where her love of prints and layering, inspired by luminaries such as Dries van Noten, was fully expressed.
A chance encounter on the train
After an inspiring period in London working as a freelancer, her career took a fairy-tale turn. A chance meeting on the Eurostar with an art lover impressed by her bird drawings led to the funding of her first collection. "Long story short, I rode my bike to the notary and started my own label," laughs Marylène. At the age of 22, the Marylène Madou brand was a reality.
More than seasons, driven by stories
What sets Marylène Madou's work apart is her aversion to the traditional fashion system. Instead of seasonal collections, she works with annual themes such as "The Gardener" and "The Hobbyist. This allows her to do in-depth research and develop prints that tell a story. "It gives me more peace of mind as a designer," she explains.
"The square means a lot to me."
Her iconic silk scarves and the resulting kaftans, composed of two squares, form the core of her collection. These pieces are so beloved that retailers can personalize them with prints from her extensive archive. This makes each collection unique and exclusive. In addition to clothing, the brand has expanded into interior design, with everything coming together in its new showroom in Bokrijk.
Challenges and Future in Belgian Fashion
As a Belgian designer, Marylène faces unique challenges. Competition from established brands and the high cost of marketing, especially video content, make it a competitive landscape. Yet she sees a positive shift: manufacturers in Europe are increasingly willing to think with smaller, creative labels.
Challenges and Future in Belgian Fashion
With a permanent store in Bokrijk, a thriving webshop and collaborations with prestigious hotels and boutiques at home and abroad, Marylène Madou has laid a solid foundation. Her story is an inspiration for young designers and proof that authentic Belgian design can reach a global audience. Her creations, full of color and personality, are an ode to creativity and an enrichment for the Belgian fashion world.
Marylène Madou - Our Designers
