SCOTTISH menswear brand MG Gabriel is inspired by everything from origami to architecture.
The brand was founded by Martin Scroggie, who was born and raised in Bishopbriggs, East Dunbartonshire.
Scroggie studied at Cardonald College before moving to London in 2003 to continue his studies, graduating in 2006 with a BA in menswear from the prestigious London College of Fashion.
He then spent four years working in the industry, beginning at the Topman flagship on London’s Oxford Street before progressing to the brand’s head office, where he spent a year and a half working as an assistant designer.
In the meantime, Scroggie continued to freelance as a product developer for new companies, worked as an assistant costume designer in the film industry and also commissioned bridalwear.
Scroggie returned to Glasgow to study a masters at Glasgow School of Art. After graduating in 2012, he took the plunge to launch MG Gabriel.
Scroggie — full name Martin Gerard Gabriel Scroggie, hence the name of his label — explains: “It was always a thought when I started studying, but career paths pushed that idea to the back of my mind. When I was in London I was seeing other designers living this dream that inspired me, however it was also happening in Scotland. I was consistently hearing about the growing talent and that inspired me to start the label up here.”
MG Gabriel was created out of Scroggie’s love for both tradition and modernity. To translate this, he combines traditional elements with contemporary twists and these amalgamate to become smart, formal garments with a relaxed and comfortable edge.
When creating new garments, Scroggie turns to different cultures and relatable connections as sources of inspiration. These include everything from clothing and textiles to folklore and architecture, which he then combines with modern shapes.
Scroggie explains: “I had taken some simple silhouettes and applied folding and wrapping techniques to give the garments a new perspective.
“I was looking at a lot of eastern influence like origami for jackets and Asian wrapping and gathering for trousers and waistcoats.”
Since launching, Scroggie has attracted the attention of some of Scotland’s leading industry experts. In 2015 he was selected as a finalist for the Scotland Re:Designed (SR:D) showcase and received a nomination for a menswear award at SR:D last year.
Most recently, he was selected to become a part of the Fashion Foundry programme, an opportunity which will provide him with the guidance to help develop his label.
Of his plans for the future, Scroggie says: “All I ever hope for is to grow my business, make contacts with new and interesting people and inspire more people to take interest in the brand.”
www.mggabriel.com
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