From a young age Molly Marciano has had a love for Jessica Simpson. Now, at 37, the Bellefonte resident has unveiled her new clothing collection under the name Molly Mach, inspired by her favorite singer and designer.
“I think I more enjoy making pieces for people to enjoy throughout their life,” Marciano said. “So I just want to be a fashion designer and I kind of want to brand a lot of things like Jessica Simpson, like she did.”
The collection was unveiled Saturday at Helen Foxx & Co. in Bellefonte, featuring upcycled clothing, jewelry and stationery designed by Mach. Joyce Mills, the owner of Helen Foxx, said Mach has been a longtime customer of the store, stopping in multiple times a day to look around and speak with employees.
“She just mentioned one day that she would love to be a fashion designer,” Mills said. “And so we thought oh my gosh, well let’s see if we can get something together to have her little fashion dream come true.”
The collection was made by The Common Thread owner Jenni Bamer, who partnered with Mills and Marciano to turn her drawings into real designs. All the clothing and materials were donated by Bamer and Mills but the proceeds will go to Marciano.
Mills took one of Marciano’s drawings, a self-portrait with a moon shaped necklace, to become the label on the Molly Mach line. As a homage to Marciano’s drawing, the collection also includes little moon necklaces.
“For advertising the Molly Mach collection, they made a beautiful advertisement in that collection that’s going to be my label on my clothing to start out with,” Marciano said. “I actually drew her but they made a little cartoon on it on the computer. So I was really proud of that.”
Marciano said she hopes to one day design for fashion companies like Guess, as well as design other collections of perfume and beauty products.
Mills said the collection was not only an opportunity to feature a new line but also to show the store’s love and support for Marciano.
“We sell clothes, but we love the people in our community,” Mills said. “And I think it makes me weep because I think that’s why we’re here, more to love on our community than to sell clothes.”
This tale was at first published July 21, 2023, 4:30 PM.