Plus her top 5 pieces for walking!
My name is Bailey Mark and I am the Director and Co-Founder of Marlow, a premium
woman’s Athleisurewear brand.
Q & A with Bailey
What was your inspiration behind starting Marlow? How did it all come
about?
I guess it started out with a big dream and a lot of desire. I love fashion and business.
Owning your own business means you have to be both creative and business minded and I
thoroughly enjoy being able to have control over the business decisions on the daily. I also
love the flexibility of running my own schedule – not having to be chained to the desk from
8am-5pm allows me to be more productive throughout the day. I also love working with
talented people, and the fashion industry is such that you cannot go one day without meeting
one of those.
Having grown up with my mother in the industry, I was fortunate enough to begin working in
fashion from a young age. I’ve worked for some of the world’s leading fashion brands in
Buying, Wholesale and Marketing roles. I’ve travelled extensively having been based in
London for 4 years. I have a very commercial understanding of the industry and this has
taught me what women want and how they like to shop. I feel it’s so important to have an
international perspective – to further your reach and tap into the global market.
Marlow was established during Covid 2020, having identified the need for more premium
athleisurewear to take you from studio to street. Marlow stands out in the way it fuses
fashion and function, designing highly versatile pieces.
Our clothing is designed to be an anchor in your wardrobe; timeless, beautiful and practical pieces to enhance a fast-paced lifestyle, whilst keeping you feeling confident and looking chic. These work as stylish contemporary clothing, with signature shapes, unique luxurious fabrics and elevated details, but also with support, coverage and performance to stand the test of time. Your Marlow pieces will be in your wardrobe for years to come.
What is Marlow’s ethos?
Marlow is premium athleisurewear; simple, sleek and effortless pieces for modern
contemporary women to wear all year round. We combine extraordinary attention to detail
with an elevated yet understated aesthetic. We design and deliver beautiful products over
three key categories; activewear, knitwear and loungewear – all providing an easy luxurious
look, whether putting together outfits for work, play or lounging. Think timeless style, not fast
fashion: quality not quantity. Every item has extensive design and attention to detail
underpinned by a strong sustainable conscious ethos. Our colour palette is very neutral,
trans seasonal and we select colours that will not date.
We have a wide customer base, I think Marlow is for every girl, every woman. Whether it’s
your 18-year-old sister or a 65-year-old woman, we’ve always tried to have a broad
demographic.
We’re so thrilled to have partnered with you as our Restart Official Lifestyle Partner! What most excited you about this partnership?
We are also very excited by this partnership as it aligns perfectly with our Marlow brand
values. Healthy eating goes hand in hand with wellbeing, healthy lifestyle, working out and
wearing great activewear to make you feel good and enhance your performance. Wellbeing
is a key pillar at Marlow and we work hard to provide products to ensure our customers feel
good about themselves as they lead their busy lives whether it’s at work, home or at play.
What has been one of Marlow’s biggest achievements so far? What are you most proud of!
Gosh it’s hard to choose, there have been so many, we are only 18 months old and have
managed to open 3 stores and 2 pop up shops in this time. It’s been a lot of work but well
worth it now. I am most proud of our amazing team, everyone is always happy to muck in
and step up. I have a lot of gratitude for the last 18 months and the journey we’ve been on
but I have a lot of optimism for what lies ahead as we have some pretty exciting projects due
to come to fruition.
And, we obviously love food! So we’re dying to know what cosy recipes you’re most looking forward to cooking this winter?
I am a big fan of warm soups in winter. On a Sunday I love to whip up a hearty veggie soup
with all the leftover vegetables in the fridge. Obviously with a thick slice of Daily Bread
Kūmara sourdough to dip in. Life is very full on with an exercise regime coupled with a busy
work life balance so easy nutritious tasty meals are my absolute go to.
We’d love for you to show us your top 5-6 picks from your recent collection that are perfect for all types of walking!
Mini Rib Active Split Legging – Our new mini split flare ticks all the boxes of function and fashion. These full-length leggings deliver a figure-skimming athleisure look elevated by our buttery soft mini rib fabric, adjustable drawcord and trendy split hem.
Warrior Sports Bra – Our Warrior Bra is designed for low to medium support which is
perfect for walking, This bra features a simple scoop clean cut in the front and back,
with wide comfortable straps, designed to be body hugging for everyday wear. This
style features a three layer fabric with removable cups for optional shape, with an
elasticated under band and airbrush texture to accentuate the close fit.
Essential Modal Tee – Our modal tees are part of our essentials range, these are
perfect for form and function, modal is breathable and absorbent, this cotton
alternative is a favourite here at Marlow. Derived from pulped wood fibres, modal is
lightweight and silky smooth to the touch with an impressive resistance to shrinkage
and pilling. It is also around 50% more water-absorbent per unit volume than cotton,
making it the perfect fabric for athleisurewear.
Courtside Longsleeve Tee – Made from organic cotton with our new mesh
technology and in our long sleeve style to give you an extra bit of warmth on the
cooler days. Designed to be worn with activewear with an oversized fit to give it an
elevated, sports-luxe look. The contrast fabric gives it a summer feel as it is
lightweight, fun and casual. This new style is breathable and drapes beautifully on
the body, making it a staple for any wardrobe. Perfect for walks with friends and
on-the-go activities.
Baseline Jacket – This season’s sporty must-have Jacket, designed to keep you
outdoors on those dreary windswept days. The perfect everyday essential and
functional jacket, crafted in our windproof, water resistant, lightweight fabric. Baseline
is the perfect layer to throw on over activewear or to elevate your casual style.
Whether you’re watching sport on the weekend, playing tennis or golf or just running
errands, this jacket has you covered.
Own your mornings with Bailey
What are you loving at the moment?
I have a new Schnoodle puppy, Remi – I am loving spending time training and watching her
grow. She’s so loving and very adventurous all at the same time, she is growing so fast !
What are you eating at the moment?
I am obsessed with yummy winter soups and easy wraps that I can just throw together.
How do you practice mindfulness?
In two ways – firstly I do pilates and yoga twice a week, this is a good way for me to switch
off from work and relax my brain. I also love having a sauna at the end of a long day, it helps me clear my mind before bed and also sleep like a baby.
More about Bailey
It’s been a dream of mine for many years to start my own business having worked extensively across various aspects of the fashion retail industry for over 15 years. Marlow was established during Covid having identified the need for more premium athleisurewear to take you from studio to street. Our clothing is designed to be an anchor in your wardrobe; timeless, beautiful and practical pieces to enhance a fast-paced lifestyle, whilst keeping you feeling confident and looking chic. It’s been an exciting journey to date. I am really proud of how far we have come in such a short time.
See more from Marlow on their website or social channels!
