Bournemouth: Max Onn, a 23-year-old designer, advances in sustainable fashion, receiving £1,200 in grants from the SWEF Enterprise Fund. His brand, Maco, reflects unique, edgy designs, emphasising upcycling and creativity, as he aims for success in the competitive fashion industry.
Max Onn, a 23-year-old designer from Bournemouth, is making strides in the fashion industry, specifically within the realms of upcycling and sustainable fashion. Recently, he received a significant boost in his entrepreneurial journey with two grants totalling £1,200 from the SWEF Enterprise Fund, administered by Dorset Community Foundation.
The SWEF Enterprise Fund is dedicated to supporting young people aged 18 to 30 in overcoming financial obstacles to develop their business initiatives. Grants of up to £2,000 are available to established businesses, while start-ups can receive funding up to £500. These funds assist with essential costs for training, product development, and equipment necessary for launching new products or services.
Max, who currently operates from a studio at the Garm Depot creative hub in The Arcade, has rapidly gained recognition for his edgy, distressed designs. He began his fashion journey by exploring the mechanics of clothing construction on YouTube, which led to a hands-on approach of deconstructing and reconstructing garments using his mother’s sewing machine. This passion blossomed into the creation of his own brand, Maco, approximately a year and eight months ago.
Reflecting on his journey, Max said, “One day I thought I’d get the sewing machine out and go for it,” adding, “I don’t think I’ve spent a day since then not using one.” Through a process of trial and error, he honed his skills, allowing him to craft unique pieces of clothing, such as jackets, shirts, and hoodies, distinguished by their bespoke detailing with buckles, buttons, studs, rivets, and zips.
The inception of his brand was serendipitous. Max recounts, “This guy stopped me in the street and said he liked it and wanted to know where he could buy one. I said he could have it for £100 and he bought it. I was so excited.” However, after using some personal savings to initiate his business, he sought additional funding to procure stock and equipment for expansion.
Upon learning about the SWEF fund from another recipient, he successfully navigated the application process, stating, “At first I was a bit anxious about explaining what I wanted to do, but when I spoke to everyone and had an online meeting it was very chilled out and everyone was very nice.”
The first grant of £500 was instrumental in helping him to organise his studio by purchasing stock, a cutting table, and storage solutions. “It felt like a proper studio with room for me to work properly,” he expressed. The subsequent grant of £700 will fund further stock purchases, the establishment of a website for online sales, and a camera to enhance his digital marketing efforts on platforms such as Instagram, TikTok, and Reddit.
Max has also expanded his offerings by creating hats and tote bags, inspired by a bag he deconstructed from a charity shop, which exemplifies the principle of upcycling. He highlighted his satisfaction in the creative process, stating, “I made one the other day that looked exactly how I thought it would in my head, so I’m really happy with it.”
While the production of jackets can take up to two weeks, Max has streamlined the creation process for hats and bags, completing them in less than a day. He articulated his aspiration: “My goal is to be able to live off the online sales and just have a nice studio space.”
The support from the SWEF Enterprise Fund has proven invaluable in assisting Max to refine his production capabilities, which he credits for enhancing his business operations. “I get a buzz seeing someone wear something I’ve made,” he said, encapsulating the passion that drives his enterprise, which is aligned with sustainable fashion principles that advocate for the use of second-hand materials and slow fashion practices.
Source: Noah Wire Services
