Magda Butrym is on a mission. Her goal? To empower women. Unique, defiant and independent, her brand has a message: that we should all be our own muses.

Hailing from Poland, Butrym founded her namesake brand back in 2014, and since then has built a label like no other. From collaborating with independent artisans from all over Poland to creating an aesthetic that is completely her own, Magda Butrym is establishing a unique identity for women all around the globe.

As part of our International Women's Day celebrations, the founder and creative director sat down with us to talk about the women that inspire her, being your own muse and what fashion means to her. It’s time to get to know Magda Butrym.

Before you started out in fashion, your plan was to study medicine, but your mother suggested you pursue a career in fashion instead… how has your mother influenced your career as a designer?

My mother has been integral to my career as someone who has always supported me and my choices. It’s true, I was planning to study medicine, but my mother rightfully pointed out that I was more interested in how my apron would look than I was in biology. I realised this meant I should look into a fashion career. She supported me despite the fact there was no mature industry or quality education in this field in Poland.

What’s your earliest fashion memory?

My earliest fashion memory is deep-rooted in my family. My parents always paid attention to how they dressed - even in the generally unstylish region of Silesia in Poland - and they used their clothes to express their personalities and aspire to more joy in life. This made me see and use clothing as a way to express myself and give me self-confidence since my early school days.

As a designer, you were self-taught. How did this DIY approach shape you as a designer and how has it continued to influence you today?

It has enabled me to follow my creative processes without the constraints of perhaps trying to align with something taught. It’s an allowance to have that freedom of expression. I continue to design pieces that will elevate a woman’s lifestyle regardless of personal style or social standing. We have to understand the power of clothing and fashion as a mechanism to change the way we feel, and if my brand can do this, then I think I am doing my bit for women everywhere.

The Magda Butrym ethos is to be your own muse. How does this feed into the way you design?

Fashion can empower everyone. In my design process I often try things on or make myself early prototypes of the pieces which will later form the collection, in order to understand how I will feel wearing. I design and keep pieces which make me feel comfortable within myself and hope that my customers will love their Magda Butrym pieces precisely because of the way they made them feel - confident, beautiful, admired, stylish. I want women to feel the benefit of dressing up and feeling positive and good about themselves and to notice how this can affect their everyday lives, relationships or even careers.

What does fashion mean to you?

Fashion is much more impactful than people might think. It is much more than following a trend or having something new to show off. Fashion has the power to make people feel better about themselves, to encourage confidence and to be able to take on the daily trials and tribulations of life. If you feel that you look and feel good, then others will perceive you this way.

Your designs have a romantic, feminine feel to them, but there are details that feel borrowed from classic menswear styles. How does gender influence the way that you design?

In terms of tailoring and the silhouette of certain pieces, there’s a clear relationship with classic menswear. Strong, confident, and empowering - which sits at the heart of what the Magda Butrym brand is all about. But that real feminine and romantic aesthetic is also very important for me to portray across each collection. It’s the fusion that is so important for the brand and focusing on empowering women.

In the past you’ve said that you draw a lot of inspiration from music. What’s inspiring you right now?

I take influence from many places, from music and art to architecture. I get inspired by observing people and various situations in their lives and thinking how fashion can play a role in their lives. My last collection was AW23 which drew a subtle inspiration from the east, nothing too direct but some of the placing of the prints, slits on dresses and tops.

In an interview with Harpers Bazaar, you said that ‘being a mother has had a very obvious impact on my designs.’ How does motherhood continue to influence your creativity and the way you design?

Becoming a mother cemented the ideology of the Magda Butrym brand, as a universal collective for women to feel positive and good about themselves through fashion. That, of course, includes mothers and new mums especially, who see their bodies change and sometimes need the confidence to feel good again. It’s the biggest challenge there is. I also think that becoming a mother requires one to step up the daily discipline which makes me much more organised in [my] approach to work.

What women have inspired you most in your life and why?

I'm inspired by women in general. I feel every woman can be "her own muse", it's fascinating to see how women can feel empowered regardless of their age, ethnicity, education, or background. I’ve always looked up to strong women who present themselves well, this could easily be a woman I’ve seen on the street. I love to watch and study people and I noticed from a young age that well-presented people - and this doesn’t always mean people of wealth - always seem to have a greater belief in themselves.

What do you hope will be your legacy with Magda Butrym?

I want Magda Butrym to become the universally recognized brand that champions the dreamy, romantic, and Slavic aesthetic. To be recognised as a designer that makes women feel empowered and self-confident through wearing and accessorising with our pieces.