LIFELONG FRIENDS
made me feel like I couldn’t achieve it. Her patience and support have been the foundation of my love for sewing.” Another of Meg’s huge supporters has been her mum who helps out in numerous ways. It’s definitely not a onegal job behind the supposedly one-gal brand, says Meg. Her mum has been a legend behind the scenes, helping research fabrics, iron garments, and pack them up for shipping. For her designs, Meg draws inspiration from current trends and what her friends like to wear.
Meg at the YES trade fair at Dio in 2021.
Self-love
IS ALL YOU NEED Meg Wallace’s business began with one pair of pants. After receiving recognition from the Young Enterprise Scheme, she’s expanded her range and is helping promote body confidence in young women. Dio alumna Meg Wallace (2021) started DressedbyMeg during the March 2020 lockdown. Working from her bedroom, she began making her first product using fabric purchased from Spotlight. “It all started when I made myself a pair of jersey pants and others wanted them too,” she says. “A lot of research went into that first product, and it’s definitely changed since the first pair was made.” Over the last year Meg has expanded her range to include dresses, tops and bikinis. The philosophy behind her brand is very important at a time when young women are confronted with the impossible body ideals of digitally enhanced celebrities on social media. “DressedbyMeg promotes self-love and body confidence with clothing that
makes you feel comfortable being you,” explains Meg. “It’s about loving who you are and not comparing yourself to others, because you’re enough. I want our customers to put on our garments and feel like they wouldn’t change a thing about themselves.” Meg got her first sewing machine at 10 and learned to sew alongside her grandmother, a talented dressmaker. Her passion grew and studying fabric technology at school helped expand her skills – especially under the tutelage of Mrs Wells, who Meg calls a ‘sewing superwoman’. “I didn’t make it easy for her. I always wanted to make something slightly more difficult than she’d like. But she’d fix any issues I ran into with a big smile. Whatever crazy idea I had, she never
“DressedbyMeg wouldn’t be possible without the support of my friends. They’re constantly coming up with new ideas of things I should make. I’ll usually think of an item that’s popular and recreate it in my own way for a more affordable price.” Meg carried DressedbyMeg through to Year 13 Business Studies to take part in the Young Enterprise Scheme (YES). She says initially YES felt like just something she had to do for NCEA credits. “It seemed like extra unnecessary work,” she admits. “But I was so wrong. DressedbyMeg wouldn’t have been nearly as successful without the guidance of the YES programme. It taught me so much about customers and running a small business. Before YES, I was just a young girl sewing pants from her bedroom. It forced me to think about what’s important to me about clothing and to create a purpose for my business.” Meg got through to the regionals where she presented a sales pitch to a panel of judges. She received the Excellence in Product Development Award and couldn’t have been happier with the outcome. Going forward, she has big dreams for her business. She’s studying design at university and once she finishes her degree, she wants to grow DressedbyMeg and eventually open a retail store. Follow @DressedbyMeg on Instagram or shop her range at https:// dressedbymeg.mystorbie.com/shop DIO TODAY
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