The Opposite Thing
Who We Are
Buying stuff is sexy. Ruining the planet while you do it isn’t. From our studio in Bethnal Green, we’re side eyeing the fashion industry while kind of loving it too. So, while we critique but j’adore the non-stop world of fashion for fashion’s sake, we do things like take on our own clothing factory (so 1970s, we know), invest in training for a close knit group of artisans, and work with the best creatives in the business.
Miista upends the exclusionary practices of the fashion industry in an effort to show how we’re living now. Over the last ten years we are proud to have built a brand that through craft, our community, the risks we’ve taken and a willingness to laugh at ourselves, has made a commitment to the alternative. A dedication to the opposite thing. What does that mean? That we’re happy to sacrifice profit and to subvert problematic fashion trends to create a product that has personality in addition to aesthetic value. You know when it’s a Miista.
Here’s what we feel a product needs to be in order to achieve ‘luxury’ status.
IT CAN BE MENDED
We don’t feel you can call a product a luxury item if it cannot be mended. Any piece you buy from us can be mended by our team. We believe in an artisan hand-made approach, and in investing in people over machines. By having our own factory in Spain, we are able to ensure that every stage of the garment making process is made according to handmade methods.
IT TAKES TIME
We take our time with each and every one of our products. We spend as much time as is needed to make every single one of our items by hand. Using mass production tools would save a lot of time, but by using artisans and taking time to discuss every part of the process, each piece is made with patience, consideration and experimentation.
THE HIGHEST QUALITY MATERIALS, WITHOUT THE CARBON FOOTPRINT
We believe that our garments, shoes and accessories must be made from premium material. Our production process takes seven months, longer than industry standards. We source our materials in the EU only and specifically in Italy, Portugal and Spain, significantly cutting down flight time in shipment.
Our Founder
‘’I founded Miista in 2010 in East London to create shoes that were original, experimented with texture and shape, and importantly, had a democratic price point for a luxury item. At the time I felt there wasn’t enough experimentation between making a product with the highest quality European-only sourced materials, and the practice of radical shoe design. Both myself and Pablo (now not only my brother but my business partner), were brought up with the belief that you should shop less and make your belongings last for longer. We wanted to create a luxury investment item that you could own and wear forever. We grew up in the North of Spain by the Atlantic coast, an area with a history of fashion production dating back to 19th Century artisans who handmade linens — some of these artisans are our ancestors. I have always been interested in the ownership of the fashion supply chain and this year we invested in our own factory for the Miista brand to produce our inaugural Autumn/Winter 2021 ready-to-wear collection’’ Laura Villasenin
Designed in London
London is a big part of who we are as a brand. Ever since she moved to the city in 2001 to study, our founder Laura’s experiences in the city have inspired Miista’s collections. In 2020, we properly committed to the area of London we love the most, Bethnal Green. In April 2020 we turned an old leather tannery in Bethnal Green, East London, into a community design studio and showroom, which we can’t wait to welcome you in to. Whilst we are proudly made in Spain, we are a London brand and constantly inspired by the city. Always playing with opposites, we enjoy a double identity between Spain and London.
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