Collections: Womenswear and menswear
Tell us a bit about yourself and your brand.
Mfpen is a Copenhagen-based co-ed brand focusing on utilising existing materials, such as deadstock and residual fabrics and recycled fibers. Inspired by classic European tailoring, drawing on counter-cultural notions, we work with recontextualising stereotypes in fashion. Nearly a decade ago, while freelancing for various companies, I became aware of the vast amounts of deadstock fabrics sitting unused at factories and mills. Intrigued by the opportunity, I began exploring ways to purchase these materials for my own projects. This discovery ultimately inspired the creation of Mfpen.
How would you describe the USP of Mfpen?
Craftsmanship and responsibility. Classic European tailoring with counter-cultural notions.
Why did you get into fashion design?
Through skateboarding and music culture.
What do you think is the biggest challenge facing smaller brands today?
Besides the geopolitical tensions everyone is facing, there is the challenge of working with big unstable retailers and slow payments.
How can the fashion industry help designers overcome this challenge?
I can only answer for myself, but we luckily have a good amount of direct sales. Besides that, we are focused on limiting overproduction and are lucky to have retailers — both big and small — who align with this concept.
What will you do with the prize if you win?
First and foremost, bring awareness to Mfpen and our concept. The mentorship is, of course, an amazing opportunity to get knowledge from industry experts. The prize money would help us expand our universe via our own platform, opening another store in one or two other major cities. At the same time, we can purchase even more deadstock, which we usually buy a season before using it.
