A former Love Islander has criticised Molly-Mae’s new clothing line, Maebe (Image: Instagram/@mollymae)Love Love Island? Our Factor 50 email brings all the goss direct to your inboxMore Newsletters SubscribePlease enter a valid emailSomething went wrong, please try again later.More NewslettersWe use your sign-up to provide content in ways you’ve consented to and improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and third parties based on our knowledge of you. More infoThank you for subscribing!We have more newslettersShow me See OurPrivacy Notice See OurPrivacy Notice×Group 28 Love Love Island? Our Factor 50 email brings all the goss direct to your inboxInvalid emailSomething went wrong, please try again later.Sign UpNo thanks, closeWe use your sign-up to provide content in ways you’ve consented to and improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and third parties based on our knowledge of you. More info×Group 28Thank you for subscribing!We have more newslettersShow MeNo thanks, closeSee our
Privacy NoticeA former Love Island contestant has criticised Molly-Mae Hague’s latest venture, her clothing line Maebe, after it received mixed reviews from shoppers. Molly-Mae, whose career took off following her stint on the reality show, launched her much-awaited fashion label at the end of September, and it sold out within minutes. The influencer, who spent two years developing the brand, promised her followers that Maebe would focus on quality and innovative designs, aiming to “bridge the gap” between fast fashion and high-end apparel. However, since its debut, while many fans have lauded the collection, some have expressed disappointment with the fabric choices. Among the critics is Dr Brett Staniland, a model and sustainable fashion advocate who appeared on Love Island’s seventh season.
Dr Brett Staniland is a sustainable fashion advocate
(Image: Instagram/@twinbrett)
He bluntly stated that Maebe “doesn’t pass the quality check” and questioned Molly’s previous collaboration with fast-fashion giant PrettyLittleThing, suggesting that her own label falls into the same category of non-sustainable fashion. Brett, who graced the villa in 2021, also pointed out that the brand’s website initially provided “zero information” about the fabric composition of the clothes, implying that customers were left in the dark about the true value of their purchases, reports the Mirror. The model, alongside other eagle-eyed fans, spotted that Maebe’s website initially offered limited descriptions of each piece, with one garment being described as having “just a touch of wool”. More detailed information about the fabric compositions appear to be added to the website later on. He suggested the prices would be good for “value for money if you were buying ethically made quality clothing of natural fibres”, but subtly hinted that Maebe may fall short of that mark. Posting a picture of a top listed at £50, he remarked: “This contour top is 86% polyester and 14% Spandex, and known as 100% plastic.”
Molly-Mae launched Maebe last month
(Image: INSTAGRAM)
Next, he highlighted a blazer positioned at £140 on the site, calling it “over 80% plastic” after noting the materials as 63% polyester, 19% viscose, and 18% acrylic. Lastly, he pointed out a knitted cardigan priced at £65, describing it as “95% plastic” based on its composition of 41% acrylic, 30% polyester, 24% polyamide and just 5% wool. Brett denounced these materials as “These are all very low-quality materials,” and synonymous with fast fashion. In his video caption, he expressed that Molly Mae ought to “do more” to elevate her brand beyond fast fashion yet remain below high-end luxury levels. Fashion critic Brett had some sharp observations about the latest influencer-led brand, noting the power of social media in sales. “I think this person is at the stage now where she could literally sell out anything, as per her social media power, but how many of these will be returning customers? You only get one go at making a first impression.” He also highlighted the problematic nature of limited drops, saying: “Drops notoriously create demand, and force people to consume at incessant rates because their chance might be gone soon, leading to impulse buying, and in a way, is a dark pattern of consumerism.”
Molly Mae’s first drop sold out in minutes
(Image: Instagram/ @mollymae)
Criticising the brand’s quality, Brett didn’t mince words, as he added: “Safe to say this brand doesn’t pass the quality check and there’s plenty of brands at this price point that make far better stuff, that is high quality, durable and recyclable, which none of this is by the way.” Fans were quick to weigh in with their opinions. One commenter remained skeptical about the influence of endorsements, saying: “I think that anyone willing to spend money on a product just because an influencer made it probably won’t care whether it’s made of polyester or not,” while another dryly remarked on the quality of materials used: “So plastic clothes rebranded as Luxury.” Despite the concerns raised, Maebe’s website attempts transparency with a dedicated ‘Transparency’ section, outlining its supply chain choices. The brand insists that they have “The Maebe website has a section titled ‘Transparency’ that outlines its suppliers and factories. They state they use factories in China and Turkey and have been ‘carefully selected’. ” factories in China and Turkey, adding: “Turkey is renowned for its expertise in cotton-based jersey fabrics, especially organic textiles, which is why we produce most of our jersey garments there.” They maintain that shorter lead times allow them to deliver clothing faster without compromising workers’ conditions or wages. The fashion site praises China’s skilled workers and high-quality fabrics, saying: “China is renowned for its expertise in woven garments, thanks to its access to high-quality speciality fabrics and highly skilled workers. Our view on ‘premium,’ means we invest more to ensure superior fabric quality, exceptional craftsmanship, and strict adherence to our ethical standards.” Molly Mae’s team declined to comment.Story SavedYou can find this story in  My Bookmarks.Or by navigating to the user icon in the top right.Follow OK! MagazineFacebookTwitterCommentMore OnLove IslandMolly-Mae Hague
