In this episode of The Sally Steele Show, I sat down with fellow Glasgow lass, award-winning graphic designer and now sustainable fashion designer Maria Harran.  A graphic designer by trade, Maria strives to use her creativity for the greater good. We discuss how the strict Melbourne COVID19 lockdown has actually given her creative space, allowed the overwhelm she was feeling of running a successful design agency to melt away and inspired a full range of sustainable summer collection, including swimwear, towel, slides and suitcase. The range aimed at uplifting us into enjoying the outdoor lifestyle we have in Australia and inspire women to stand out and be confident in who they are. Launch at the beginning of December and pre-orders have shown Maria that this could be the start of something big – a new family business – a new Harran legacy.

In this episode we also chat about:

• Maria's strict catholic upbringing in Cumbernauld, Glasgow, as one of 6 children.
• Her love of Glasgow, late 80s/early 90s rave culture and the Scottish obsession with getting a tan on holiday and how it impacted her self-love as a pale skinned celt growing up.
• The influence of her high school art teacher in encouraging her to pursue a career in Graphic Design.
• How meeting her best mate of over 30 years Fiona and her fearless individuality, lit a fire in Maria to be unafraid of what people thought and create her own bold, daring look.  
• How she nearly went off the rails, when left with an empty house for several months, before a college lecturer took her aside and told her not to blow her design talent on partying.
• The fortuitous way Maria got her first job in graphic design in Melbourne, working for a family man for which allowed her the freedom to start her own family whilst still earning an income.
• How moving to Australia and comments about her "beautiful" pale, smooth skin had a profound effect on her fully embracing her unique beauty and loving herself for who she was.
• The positive changes to work-life balance that have happened since her husband was made redundant and she lost her job, how they've redesigned their family life with her choosing to start her own business and her husband taking over the main home and children duties.
• Her love for her first client's charity Family Life and Okay Lady mindful jigsaws and how she felt about being nominated for a prestigious Australian Graphic Design Award.
• Her young son's ideas for building her brand and family business.
• Frankie Knuckles and the re-mix that always gets Maria out on the dance floor.
• The cult classic 1981 Scottish film Gregory's Girl, was a movie she loved as it brings nostalgia from her time in Cumbernauld.
• Maria is a voracious reader and shares her three top books she gifts people.
• And finally, Maria encourages us to take a look at Family Life, which for 50 years has been building resilience and healthy relationships and improving responses to child vulnerability and family violence. You can help easily by donating or shopping their online op shop here.

 

So, enjoy this funny and uplifting episode with Maria Harran.

 

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Sally Steele