{image1}No matter your size or shape Mary Mendla believes in designing clothing "to enhance the beauty of the feminine body in all of its forms."
Mendla studied painting and drawing to complete a Fine Arts degree, but a few classes in fabric surface design grabbed her attention and led her into the world of fashion. She began to develop the Fine Art Line of clothing that has been around for over 10 years.
"Fabric surface design is a wonderful and creative process," Mendla says. "Working with color and texture, you take a fabric and bring it to life. It becomes a three-dimensional walking sculpture."
Mendla selects her fabrics for the hand and way it drapes and falls on the body. She is always thinking about how to enhance the female form. "I like working with different body types and finding ways to enhance each woman's individual beauty," says Mendla.
She loves texture and works with select fabrics using techniques such as shibori, a bond and pleated resist technique. She also hand applies dyes and paints on the fabric in order to layer color and create unusual tones.
"One thing I love about her work is that she uses wonderful fabrics in nuances of color that you don't see elsewhere," comments loyal customer and Cedarburg resident, Gretchen Will Mayo.
Her meticulous approach to clothing design gained popularity, and as the demand grew it became difficult to keep up with the production. As a result, she decided to incorporate a line of coordinates that could be mass-produced and marketed along side her Fine Art pieces.
Today through Facets as well as her Fine Art Line, Mendla provides women with clothing for work and play, night and day. According to Mendla, Facets Ltd., LLC, "emphasizes the strength and potential present in all women and encourages the redefinition of 'dress for success.'"
{image2}This line of clothing is designed with versatility and wardrobe building in mind. Style, fabrics, and colors have a common thread season after season, so customers can build their wardrobe and integrate each new piece with pieces from the past.
"The Facets line is conservative but creative," Mendla says. "It offers basic, simple pieces that can be dressed up or down."
While Facets offers a clothing foundation, the Fine Art Line under the label Mary Sarah Designs, is the icing on the cake. When you need something fun and funky with artistic flair, Mary Sarah Designs will create a knockout outfit.
Her fashion inspiration comes from the natural world and is evident in her ever-growing collections. She translates the movements of swaying trees and sunlight reflecting across the water into the design of her innovative feminine fashions.
"There are so many reasons why people like it! Mary's one-of-a-kind designs are unique and artistic while keeping in with modern trends," says Laura Staton, co-owner of Mio Bella. "Her fabrics and simple cuts create lines that are feminine, elegant, fashionable and very flattering on a wide variety of figures."
"I really have quite a few of her pieces, and I keep going back for more," Will Mayo says. "She has a real eye for the shape of clothes. My sister and I are the same size, but totally different shapes. With a few stitches she makes the same clothes work for both of us."
Small collections of the Mary Sarah Designs can be found at Mio Bella in Brookfield or Katavinchy's in Waukesha as well as at art shows and through her studio. The Facets line can be purchased through her studio and various marketing representatives. While her business is based in Grafton, she has exposure to an East Coast audience, too. Prices vary, but clients may find the perfect accessory for around $28 or have a custom piece designed for several hundred dollars.
Mendla continues to find inspiration in the natural world.
"I work with color and texture to re-create this beauty on fabric which is then brought to life on the human form through its transformation into a garment." Still, she is conscious of the needs of women to "dress for success" in the business world.
Whether you are a small petite or woman's 3X, whether you need something simple or something with a little splash, you will find clothing designed by Mary Mendla fits your body and your style just right. "I feel great every time I wear one of her pieces and it all travels well," says Will Mayo. "Mary is so creative and wonderful. She is smart and sweet, just a lovely person."
To experience the Facets or Mary Sarah Designs for yourself, contact Mary Mendla in her Grafton studio at (262) 376-2253.
