Maisie Moo, astray from the herd
Meet Maisie Roberts as she talks all things putting a big embellished finger up to lockdown and building a business in the midst of a-levels
Sophie Murray sporting a handful of Maise Moo’s classic, colourful designs
I like to think of the independent Instagram business scene as a healthy sea, with the tide frequently drawing in a wealth of iridescent, bewitching brands. They sit on the shorefront, dazzling bystanders who edge in to take a closer look and maybe even a remnant home with them. As the tide draws back out it leaves the glimmers of the sustained, strong brands that survived, laying washed upon the shore.
Alongside consistency, there’s one other thing that separates the pearls from the pebbles, and that’s transparency. “Handmade La Monso inspired chunky, colourful and funky resin rings.” That was the first thing that enticed me about Maisie Moo. It’s confidence in saying, ‘yes I was inspired by another brand’, ‘yes I’m going to be honest about it’, ‘yes I’ve found uniqueness hiding in inspiration.’
“I have always looked up to big entrepreneurial names and loved listening to their individual stories of success,” Maisie began. Maisie was inspired to launch Maisie Moo after seeing everyone and their aunts wearing La Monso rings. “I really wanted one, however, they were way too expensive considering they were only made from plastic,” Maisie explained.
One naked finger scroll through Instagram showed a community of others making similar resin rings. With a keen eye for trends that identified this one in its toddler stages, Maisie felt an urge to begin making her own La Monso inspired accessories, although she hadn’t always envisioned herself as an entrepreneur. “I have always wanted to do something that makes me my happiest, and I have found that I’m just that when I’m my most creative,” Maisie expressed.
Maisie Moo is like that of a newborn calf, strong, sturdy but still stumbling slightly finding her feet in the overgrown fields of the Instagram business world that is overflowing with grounded sustainable brands and skyrocketing independent homeware businesses. But don’t let that fool you, Maisie is a force to be reckoned with.
Maisie took to entrepreneurship like any twenty-first-century businesswoman. She made an Instagram and sent her designs out to its army of influencers to launch the designs into the vivid abyss of innovative Instagram. Her mix-match, molded rings can be seen gracing the fingers of Lucy Alice Brooksbank and Sophie Murray.
What many people don’t know is that when launching the business, Maisie was in the throes of not only A-level preparation but a schooling system nobody had experienced before, e-learning. While attending lessons via zoom Maisie was also pondering what would ultimately decide her future, rings or revision? Would she design and carve her own chunky accessories, or mold a completely different future entirely?
“I’m a firm believer that everything happens for a reason and I honestly think that if it wasn’t for lockdown I would have never launched Maisie Moo,” Maisie said before adding that the business couldn’t have come at a better time. “I’m weirdly grateful I started Maisie Moo during my A-level year because making my chunky rings was somewhat relaxing, like a weird sort of therapy,” Maisie said.
When Maisie returned to boarding, her decision had been made. She would continue to mingle in the making of Maisie Moo. “I decided to take my stuff with me and make my rings under my bed,” Maisie said. And there she sat. Night after night with nothing but a chicken heater from her failed lockdown hatching, Maisie went about moulding and setting her rings in the hours enveloping her classes and studies, selling and sending them in the crack between revision and sunrise.
“It was very hard as I needed to respond to messages, make the rings, package them and send them off all while revising for my A-levels and trying to maintain a social life,” Maisie said before adding that she can hardly complain about her business’ success. “When I decided to continue running my business while in school, I made a promise to myself that I would go all the way and dedicate myself to Maisie Moo. It was the best decision I have ever made!”
Since its launch in February, Maisie Moo has evolved from La Monso inspired accessories to a sole identity, welcoming five thousand followers on the short and sweet journey so far. In discussing her new identity and the secret to a successful business, Maisie said, “I’ve never really had a defined fashion taste and I think it’s this, as well as the power of trusting your own designs, that make my rings so unique.”
“One of my rings was inspired by the colours on my friendship bracelet, another time I was awe-inspired by a sunset I saw outside my window at school,” Maisie smiled before adding, “I believe there is no defined ‘inspiration’ for Maisie Moo because ideas are everywhere around us, you just need to look harder.”
According to Maisie, if you look at jewellery brands such as, Missoma and Astrid & Miyu, you’ll find it hard to come across a piece that’s brimming with colour as most jewellery brands associate colour with tackiness. Maisie, leaning away from this all-so-serious facade, believes that colour is important in 2021 as we emerge from a year of disappointment. “Everyone deserves to feel both happy and confident, and wearing a Maisie Moo design will bring you just this!” Maisie smiled.
In meeting Maisie Moo online, it’s ever so clear that her rings do just this. Maisie has already expressed her gratuity for the bible-like social channel of Instagram that supported her in launching Maisie Moo, but would it ever have happened if we didn’t have so much power at our fingertips? According to Maisie, it wouldn’t have. And as for the traditional method of setting up a business? “Well, that’s forever gone and probably never coming back!” Maisie duly noted.
“Social media is the key to any successful business nowadays,” Maisie roared. “Lockdown boredom has not only forced people to live through social media platforms but it has been a leader in urging them to support people like me who have started a business during the lockdown,” Maisie added appreciatively.
When it comes to milestones, Maisie has lived her fair share already. “My proudest moment has to be featuring in Glamour magazine next to established jewellery brands such as Stella McCartney and Missoma,” Maisie said. “Or maybe sitting on my bed watching my favourite YouTuber, Flossie Clegg, and noticing her wearing two of my rings and proceeding to mention my brand name to her viewers!” Maisie excitedly added.
When it comes to the future of Maisie Moo, what’s Maisie dreaming of? “My future goals are definitely to reach 10k followers on Instagram and extend my product range further, however, this will all come with time and hard work,” Maisie said before adding, “I have a really exciting new ring design being released very soon and I’m eager to make a collection of unisex rings too!”