Ramona Talks | The story of how MONA WIE began

Why I Chose to Launch MONA WIE: The Beginning of a (Quietly Powerful) Adventure


Founder’s Story | Ramona Talks | MONA WIE Journey

In the latest episode of Ramona Talks, I share something deeply personal:
the moment I realised it was time to create MONA WIE.

For years, I worked in finance, a world and job I genuinely enjoyed. But even in an environment I loved, something felt incomplete. Every morning, as I dressed for work, I could sense the gap between how I wanted to feel and what my wardrobe allowed me to express.

I wanted to look competent, grounded, feminine, powerful without noise.
Not corporate. Not ornamental. Not the polished “stewardess” silhouette often offered to professional women.

I was looking for strong yet minimalist lines.
And I simply could not find pieces that matched what I felt inside.


Returning to My Roots: When Quality Was a Way of Life

I grew up wearing custom-made pieces, garments shaped with intention, precision, and care. From a young age, I learned what true quality feels like: the drape, the comfort, the quiet confidence it gives.
Founder wearing custom-made garments
With my sister and mother, wearing custom-made garments (in the 80s)
As my career advanced, it became harder to find this level of craftsmanship again, especially in pieces with strong lines, refined silhouettes, and a minimalist, modern femininity.

This tension between who I was becoming and what the industry offered quietly planted the seed for MONA WIE.


“Maybe It’s Time to Create What I Wish Existed.”

That thought came unexpectedly - exciting and frightening at once.

The First Spark of the MONA WIE (Ad)Venture

Years ago, in one of the earliest blog posts, I wrote about this moment — the beginning of the MONA WIE ad-venture. That early reflection is still true today:

“It wasn’t a grand gesture. It was a quiet certainty.”

This new Ramona Talks episode returns to that founding moment and opens a new series documenting how MONA WIE came to life, and what it means to build an independent, quality-driven, slow-fashion brand today.

Doing desktop research - very early days of MONA WIE (end of 2016)

The Foundation of MONA WIE: Power Without Noise

MONA WIE began with a simple yet powerful intention:
  • to craft pieces in exceptional natural fabrics,
  • to honour craftsmanship and silhouette,
  • to create clothing that helps women feel capable, serene, feminine, and powerful. Without compromise.

The Aesthetic Vision


Strong minimalist lines.
Quiet confidence.
Intentional femininity.
Real quality.

This is the DNA of MONA WIE.


What to Expect in the Upcoming Ramona Talks Series: Inside the Making of a Brand

This episode is the first chapter of a new series where I will share:
  • the early ideation of the brand,
  • the fears and the leaps,
  • the defining moments,
  • and later, the reality of running a slow-fashion label: fabrics, ateliers, fittings, production, and creative direction.
If you enjoy following the journey of building something meaningful, these episodes may inspire you.


Watch the Ramona Talks Episode


Ramona Talks: Why I Chose to Launch MONA WIE


Continue the Story

Revisit the beginning of MONA WIE: the Origin Story | From Idea to Launch.

Final Thoughts

Starting MONA WIE was both quiet and dramatic.
Quiet, because it unfolded slowly, as a conviction that grew over time.
Dramatic, because it meant leaving a promising career for an industry I knew little about, one often dismissed by the investor community.

But it was the only choice that felt true.

Thank you for being part of this journey.
More episodes coming next week.

 

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