Meet Marian Park-Ross | Owner Mungo & Jemima and GOOD Clothing, Cape Town

We had the good fortune of connecting with Marian Park-Ross and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Marian, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
I studied clothing but had worked many years in the film industry. The hours and seasonality were a killer and I wanted to get out, I also wanted to be my own boss, so I was making some styles and selling them in somebody else’s consignment store and felt I could do it better. It was badly run, they lost track off stock and never paid on time, so I took a walk down Cape Town’s main shopping strip at the time, where I wanted to be, and asked shop owners if they were willing to sell their leases. Nobody was. I happened to know the landlord of one of the empty shops (it was actually a bit far down I thought – turned out to be just perfect and I was there for 12 years!) but I’d signed by the end of the day! And that was the beginning. I knew all the things I wanted to do differently from how others were doing it, attention to detail, uncluttered displays, and fastidious admin were cornerstones of the plan and although a concessions store, for it to feel highly curated and for the store to have an identity of it’s own. A strong brand presence. GOOD Clothing is my brand which I sell within the Mungo & Jemima umbrella.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I am really proud to have survived and even grown despite covid. It was a very challenging time and my team has grown and gone from strength to strength. One of my key lessons is to always go to the top! Always find the person in charge to help you rather than telling the story 50x to everybody they transfer you to. Also – never take no for an answer! Anything is possible and if it doesn’t feel as good as it could be, try again! (This is perhaps as much a fault as it is a strength!)
We love the clothing we make and sell! We love supporting local and creating jobs here. We love print and colour and adding joy to people’s lives by helping them feel their best and adding a bit of fun to their wardrobes.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
We’d eat at The Table at de Meye. We’d go to babylonstoren.
Kalk bay for a swim.
We’d go to Athletic Club and Social for jazz night & cocktails.
A meander around Kirstenbosch gardens & perhaps a summer concert.
We’d have to visit a vineyard or two.
High Tea at the Mt Nelson is always a classic.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
Impossible without the amazing people who have worked for the brands along the way. My team at the moment is stellar, I would be nothing without them. The unerring support of my husband and family has also made this possible.

Website: www.mungoandjemima.com www.goodclothing.co.za

Instagram: @mungoandjemima @goodclothingsa

Image Credits
Photographer: Cass Collett Photography (IG: @casscollettphotography)