A Fireside Chat with Maggie Wu, Founder of Maggie Wu Studio

[Once Upon] a modern romantic.

I hope to inspire women to remember to love themselves, take care of themselves, and celebrate themselves, just as the way they are.

Maggie wearing a headpiece from her own collection.

Maggie Wu Studio has been a client of ours since September 2017; in fact, they were our first ever client even before Once Upon was officially founded! So naturally, we decided to dedicate our first blog post to them.

As someone who enjoys working with individuals that consistently inspires, I have a lot of respect for Creator and Designer Maggie Wu, the soul behind the elegant brand. Maggie has very high standards and doesn’t settle for anything less than what she had originally aimed to achieve. Anyone who owns her hairpieces or silk items would know exactly what I’m talking about. Her dedication to her brand shines through every collection she’s ever created.

I designed a capsule collection of comfortable yet elegant silk pieces that are perfect for her moments big and small — whether it is her most intimate moments or most extravagant affairs, I want her to feel comfortable and beautiful no matter what.

Today, I invited Maggie to join me for a fireside chat. Read on to learn more about her brand:

Maggie and her husband on her wedding day in October 2016; featured on Once Wed. Photographer: Sally Pinera.

Tell us the story of how Maggie Wu Studio came to life.

I have always made jewelry and headpieces for fun. It was nothing more than a hobby until my own wedding came around. I could not find headpieces I wanted for myself and my bridesmaids — pieces that were romantic and perfect for weddings, yet lightweight and versatile enough to be worn beyond the wedding day. So I created my own pieces, and then Maggie Wu Studio was born.

Please share your journey behind the recent re-branding of Maggie Wu Studio.

While I started my business with bridal accessories, I had this constant nagging feeling in my heart that I was promoting a message that I was completely against — that women can only celebrate or be celebrated when they are getting married. As the business started growing, I could no longer continue doing “brides-only” because this feeling I had was getting stronger and stronger. I paused my business for a few months and really examined inward as I tried to listen to my heart and understand what type of message do I really want to send out to the world. 

After months of work, I have re-launched my brand with the message of celebrating women and all of their moments big and small, with a new website, branding, as well as the brand’s first-ever silk collection. While it was a slow and difficult process, I cannot be happier about the fact that I have aligned my business to be 100% authentic to what I truly believe in, and to hopefully share a positive message with all the women around the world.

The silk pieces are comfortable yet elegant. Photo by Natelee Cocks Photography.

Why did you decide to launch a collection of silk pieces?

I wanted to create a collection that aligned with the message of celebrating women just as they are. While my headpieces were designed to be worn multiple ways, it felt limited to weddings and special occasions only. I designed a capsule collection of comfortable yet elegant silk pieces that are perfect for her moments big and small — whether it is her most intimate moments or most extravagant affairs, I want her to feel comfortable and beautiful no matter what.

Maggie wears the Bustier Top and Midi Silk Skirt from her silk collection in her honeymoon shoot in Dubai. Photography: Maria Sundun Photography.

If your silk collection were to tell a story, what would it be?

Each item is designed to capture a sense of joy and light, allowing the woman who wears it to feel the best version of herself. Each piece is thoughtfully designed so that she can style it in her own way and tell her own unique story.

What makes your silk pieces different from others?

Each piece is designed with thoughtful details in mind — from the adjustable straps of the dresses, to how the robe can be tied and turned into a shirt. There are subtle details that I hope to surprise and delight the customer as she puts on each piece.

I have also created special Curated Sets, that combine a few of my different items for various different occasions. These pieces are really meant to create a timeless capsule wardrobe that will allow you to create many different looks with your existing wardrobe.

Which silk piece is your favorite and why?

This is a very difficult question! Every time I think I have a favorite in mind, it always changes again. I would say my current favorite piece is the Pura Midi Slip. I am wearing it right now with a cozy sweater over it, sitting on my sofa, as we speak. It is just so comfortable, yet it makes me feel so elegant and put together even when I am alone at home — it is just a special moment completely dedicated to myself.

Anything else you'd like to tell us about your brand?

I hope my brand will be more than just about selling products. I want to be able to send a positive message to the world, especially to women. We as women tend to feel that we are not good enough or not doing enough, and tend to always think about taking care of others before we think about taking care of ourselves. I hope to inspire women to remember to love themselves, take care of themselves, and celebrate themselves, just as the way they are. I hope this idea will come through not just from my products but from curated content in our blog featuring many inspiring women from around the world as well.

Visit our client page to see the past and current campaigns with Maggie Wu Studio, or follow us on Instagram to check out our latest collaborations!

Thanks for stopping by!

Best,

Tricia Chen, Founder & Managing Director at Once Upon