Marina Cortbawi

Our Curriculum Vitae Q&A with the founder of Merlette. Thoughtfully designed clothing that allows women to feel elegant and at ease everyday.

Astrological sign?
Capricorn/Aquarius cusp – Virgo rising

Lucky number?
11

Favorite color?
White

Morning, Noon, or Night?
Morning

Uptown, Midtown, or Downtown?
Downtown

Met, MOMA, or Movies?
Met

Football, Baseball, or Basketball?
None – I’m clueless when it comes to any sport.

Green Tea, Black Tea, or Herbal Tea?
Black tea with milk.

Sugar, Splenda, or Stevia?
None – au natural.

Red, White, or Rosé?
Red, but not heavy, I like a Chinon.

Spicy, Salty, or Sweet?
All three

Sandwich, Soup, or Salad?
Sandwich

Black, white or color?
White, black, and sometimes splash of bright color or print.

Is your closet messy or neat?
Neat

What’s your favorite room in your home?
Bedroom

What do you collect?
These days, antique broderie anglaise dresses and trims.

Dream dinner guest?
Fran Lebowitz

Sunday ritual?
Pancakes

Favorite flower?
Magnolia

Favorite scent?
The Australian bush – it’s a very unique smell that is a combination of the dry earth, eucalyptus and citrusy native plants.

Cheat meal?
Simple pasta with lemon zest, fresh chili, olive oil and pecorino.

Favorite place to escape to when you need a moment of respite?
A hidden bay beach somewhere.

Talent you’d like to have?
To be a dancer.

Quality you want to be remembered by?
Humor and creativity.

Best thing about where you are from?
The energy.

It’s hard not to be reminiscent of the past, and distracted by the future. How do you strive to live in the moment?
Slowing down and remembering to breathe. Staying close to nature is important in a city and we are lucky in NYC that it’s easy to find quick beach, mountain and forest escapes nearby.

What does Considered Luxury mean to you?
It means something that is timeless, quiet and thoughtful yet functional and allows me to feel my best. An appreciation of the small details, workmanship, and especially with garments – the feeling of a good fabric on my skin defines that for me.

What was the inspiration behind starting your brand?
It started with travel and the desire to have transportable clothes in natural fabrics that were easy to pack and care for. Today this is still true, yet it’s about the ease of wearing a non-restrictive garment that is special yet not complicated to wear in my every day.

Give three words that describe your brand?
Timeless, Delicate details, Hybrid.

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