"There’s no one right way to wear something" Interview with Margot Castor, Maem Disko's founder

Founded in Sydney in 2021 by Margot Castor, Maem Disko is an independent womenswear label built on the belief that getting dressed should be a deeply personal experience. Championing intentional growth over rapid expansion, the brand has carved out a cult following, headlined by its signature silk capris, a modern reimagining of antique bloomers, thanks to an aesthetic that effortlessly blends vintage nostalgia, unexpected details, and a commitment to natural fabrics. Now, after making its mark in Australia, Maem Disko is taking its first step onto the international stage by choosing London as its new home away from home. Bringing its creative spirit and community-led philosophy to the heart of East London with a pop-up in Shoreditch and an intimate local dinner, founder Margot Castor sits down with us to discuss her vision, the brand's evolving aesthetic, and this exciting new chapter abroad.

Interview with Margot Castor, Maem Disko's founder

Introduce yourself to our audience

I’m Margot, the founder of Maem Disko. I started the brand when I was 20 with very little experience and no real plan beyond wanting to create pieces that felt special. Before that I’d worked in hospitality and done a few fashion internships, but I quickly realised I was much more interested in building something of my own than fitting into the traditional fashion industry. Now, at 25, I’m incredibly grateful for the community we’ve built over the past five years. Bringing Maem to London feels like a really natural next chapter because, for me, it’s never just been about selling clothes. It’s about creating spaces where women can connect with the brand, with each other, and hopefully leave feeling a little more confident than when they arrived.

Maem Disko has always felt incredibly personal, almost like an inside secret. How do you protect that intimacy as the brand starts expanding beyond Australia?

I think about this all the time. Growth is exciting, but it’s also something I’ve been surprisingly protective of because I’ve never wanted Maem to lose that sense of closeness we’ve built with our community. Expanding internationally has never been about becoming the biggest brand possible. It’s about giving our overseas community the opportunity to experience Maem in the same personal way our Australian customers have. That’s why we were so intentional about how we approached London. We wanted our first international activation to feel true to who we are, rather than trying to make the biggest statement possible. Partnering with CRABI in Shoreditch felt like a really natural fit because they’re an independent space with a strong creative community around them, and that felt much more aligned with the world we’ve built than a traditional retail environment.

Your collections constantly flirt with nostalgia without ever feeling costume-like. What’s a vintage reference you’re currently obsessed with that you think deserves a second life?

I’m obsessed with exaggerated shoes at the moment. I found this incredible vintage pair of polka dot platform heels that almost looked theatrical. More broadly though, I’ve been really drawn to accessories and styling references that feel a little unexpected. Things that might almost be considered tacky in the best possible way, really bright neon colours, exaggerated proportions, or pieces that remind me of the early 2010s. That was actually a bit of a turning point for us creatively. We styled one of our shoots with a bright neon pink shoe, and the juxtaposition of that really bold, almost electric accessory against soft, vintage-inspired silhouettes completely changed the mood of the collection. It made me realise how much I love tension in styling.

London is your first international stop. Beyond the obvious fashion connections, what is it about the city’s energy that feels so aligned with the Maem woman?

I’ve even noticed my own style changing since spending more time in London. Coming from Australia, which can feel quite small at times, there’s something really freeing about being in a city this big. It encourages you to take more risks, be more expressive, and have more fun with getting dressed. That’s something I hope Maem encourages too. Clothes are one of the few creative outlets we get to engage with every single day. I love seeing women take our pieces and style them in completely unexpected ways because it reminds me there’s no one “right” way to wear something.

Your silk capris have become something of an internet cult piece. Did you expect such an unconventional silhouette to become your signature, or did your community surprise you?

Definitely not. We launched twenty pairs and sold five. I remember feeling completely heartbroken because they were my favourite piece in the collection. My partner actually said something that’s stayed with me ever since. He told me: "You think they’re cool. Now it’s your job to show people why." That completely changed my perspective. At first we were styling them with silk blouses, which made them feel almost like sleepwear. Once we started pairing them with simple white tanks, knitwear and ballet flats, people suddenly saw them in a completely different light. Then our community began styling them in their own way, and they really took on a life of their own. It definitely wasn’t an overnight success. It was probably a year before they became what they’re known for now. That experience gave me so much confidence in my own instincts.

If someone walked into the Shoreditch pop-up without knowing anything about Maem Disko, what’s the one feeling you’d hope they leave with? Not just about the clothes, but about the brand itself.

I hope they leave feeling genuinely cared for. One of the biggest things I’ve learnt through doing pop-ups is that walking into a retail store can actually feel really intimidating for a lot of people. People worry they don’t look cool enough, they don’t know what to ask, or they feel like they’re being judged. I’d always want Maem to feel like the complete opposite of that.

What’s next for the brand?

I’ve relocated to London for the rest of the year because I really want to spend time here and get to know our community in a much more meaningful way. We’ve built such a beautiful community in Australia over the past five years, and I’m really excited to do the same on the other side of the world. For me, it’s about nurturing those relationships, understanding who our London customer is, and creating experiences that feel just as personal as they do back home. At the same time, I’m really focused on making the experience of shopping with us much easier. Our international customers have been incredibly patient over the years, despite long shipping times and expensive duties, so finding better ways to serve them is a huge priority. I’d love to make Maem more accessible for our UK and European customers through faster shipping, lower costs and an overall better experience. From a design perspective, I’m feeling really inspired by London. I’m leaning further into elevated occasion dressing, dramatic silhouettes and beautiful natural fabrics. We’ve just designed a new silk maxi with an open back and a dramatic fringe hem that’s unlike anything we’ve done before, and I can’t wait for people to see it. More than anything, I