Tell us a bit about yourself and what you do.

My name is Margaux Lunt, I was born in Brussels, Belgium, and I’m 30 years old. I moved to London to study International Business and complete a Masters in Fashion Entrepreneurship at London College of Fashion. I started working for sustainable lifestyle brand Bamford, a family-owned UK business based between the Cotswolds and London, selling womenswear, menswear, bath & body and home wear. I had the chance to work with an incredible team of talented creatives, attentive to detail and beauty. I then went on to join a small team of social entrepreneurs to work on the development and launch of a new private members club that we all know, The Conduit. After 2 years of groundwork setting up the business, analysing the competitive market, building a community of changemakers, defining sustainable targets, and conceptualising the club’s offering, the building opened its doors to members with an impressive line-up of speakers and events. I then became part of the Membership Team, where I met individuals from all walks of life: from policy makers to documentary filmmakers, Heads of organisations to young entrepreneurs. After 3 years working at The Conduit, I decided to start a new challenge and to launch my own sustainable fashion brand, called OTK. It felt like the perfect next step, combining my experience within the fashion industry and the impact space.

So what is OTK?

OTK has just launched a sustainable line of soft, cocoon-shaped jackets in collaboration with Belgian artist Sophie Whettnall and with a strong commitment to people and planet.

TRACEABILITY – we map the provenance and calculate the impact of our material sourcing and manufacturing.

NATURAL, ORGANIC & RECYCLED MATERIALS – our products are made of virgin wool, organic cotton, animal welfare certified feathers, recycled polyester and organic cashmere.

CERTIFIED PARTNERS – we prioritise third-party certified suppliers and manufacturers.

LOW WASTE – production waste management and sustainable packaging.

SMALL PRODUCTION – 150 jackets manufactured.

PHILANTHROPY – 2% of our proceeds go to the Workplace Foundation, a charity that supports emerging and commercially under-represented artists.

What was the inspiration behind OTK?

To tackle a certain challenge: to create beautifully made items of clothing, comfortable to wear and cool, all the while upholding a social and environmental responsibility. The challenge was finding a balance between desirability and sustainability.

The name OTK has a very deep & personal meaning; can you explain a bit more about that?

The acronym ‘OTK’ stands for an expression I once heard over a business call: to ‘open the kimono’. It means that someone is revealing their inner workings and ideas with honesty and openness, resonating with OTK’s mission to be traceable and authentic. As well as, referring to the hidden artwork in the lining.

Your childhood spent in the countryside has had a big impact on your life. What is it about nature that you love, and how does this drive you in your career?

When I grew up, I felt most happy when surrounded by nature. Now I’m living in a big city and it’s easy to forget that our connection to the outdoors is as important to our health as it is to the environment.

I’d like to be part of the movement that shifts mindsets by supporting the best initiatives, by educating people on our choices, and by offering a new responsible and high-end product to individuals willing to make better buying decisions with limited concessions.

Tell us about your relationship with art, and why art is so important to your designs?

Merging clothing with art was an opportunity to collaborate with creatives, to embellish the jacket, but also to add value. Each limited-edition print inside the jackets is stamped by hand with a serial number. The exclusivity and individuality that art can convey turns the jacket into a timeless wardrobe item. I wanted something special that you wouldn’t ever want to throw away. Instead, one can for example, send the jacket back to OTK’s offices to turn the lining into a beautifully framed piece of art.

I also wanted to create an inspirational collaboration, a way to give back to the artist by helping them in their work. Sophie, for instance, wanted to experiment with fabric. As part of our collaboration, OTK has created two oversized silk robes that Sophie used as canvas to directly paint on. Her artwork will be exhibited at the same time as our collection throughout our launch week*.

In the long term, our wish is to launch each new line of products in collaboration with an artist, and in return, to support the artist in developing their next endeavour. By merging art with fashion, we want to find ways to engage in a more meaningful and mindful way of life – to encourage valuing what we have and caring for what we own.

You have chosen to collaborate with Artist, Sophie Whettnall for this collection – what is it about her work that you were drawn to?

Our designer Ruth Roberts was exploring quilted lines that represent wet lines in sand, and they instantly reminded me of Sophie’s work.

Simultaneously, both Sophie and I are drawn to the same things: organic materials and organic shapes; design that is minimalist but aesthetically pleasing – powerful and beautiful. We wanted to unite the two to create something really stunning.

What is the best advice you have ever been given?

To surround yourself with the right people. Like anything, life is too short not to spend it with people that you enjoy spending time with, that support you and push you forward.

*Pop-up space: Monday 10^th – Saturday 15^th October, 9am-6pm

53 Blandford Street, Marylebone, London W1U 7HL

Follow OTK on Instagram @otkstudio.co.uk.

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What inspired you to work in mixology?

When I was a student at Hospitality School back in Italy, I used to spend the summer seasons working as a waiter in restaurants. There weren’t many cocktail bars then, but I was fascinated by that world – by mixology itself – even though it wasn’t at the level of sophistication it’s at today. I decided to step behind the bar and that’s where I’ve been ever since.

How does the London mixology scene compare to the rest of the world?

Bartending allows you to travel a lot, so I’ve been lucky enough to visit the USA, South America and Asia while working with brands, giving me the opportunity to experience other cocktail scenes around the world. London offers something unique, not just in terms of cocktail culture, but also regarding the level of hospitality and service. New York, for example, has a great cocktail scene (although it tends to be less adventurous than London), but the service is not quite at the same level, whether you visit a 5* hotel or a normal street bar.

For me, your cocktail might be delicious, you might use amazing ingredients or homemade bitters, but at the end of the day the most important thing is to leave a mark on your guests and make sure they leave happier than they came in.

How do you go about designing a drinks offering that reflects The Conduit’s ethos?

It’s essential to create something that matches the philosophy of the club. Sustainable, seasonal and local ingredients are the priority and you also want to incorporate sustainability into your daily preps and wastage.

The drinks offering will be tailored to different floors; the 5th floor lounge will have a different vibe to the Speakeasy, for example, focusing more on smoothies and healthy non-alcoholic options. On the 4th floor we’re creating something advanced and exciting to match the calibre of the food Merlin and his team are producing in the Restaurant, using unusual ingredients, fermentations and homemade preps.

My approach to drinks is that less is always more. You should always be able to offer something exciting, but if you’re creative you don’t need much to do that. Even when it comes to classic cocktails, you can come up with a million different twists. I try to bring the ‘wow’ factor to every drink with elements of unusual tastes, aromas, feelings and overall experience. Trying to deliver that in a glass isn’t easy!

What’s your poison?

What I drink depends on the time of the day, occasion, season, which bar I’m in… There are very few places I’ll order a martini, for example. One is the Connaught, not because I worked there but because I know the martini is impeccable. A martini may only be two ingredients, but there are a lot of small details that make a big difference: the way the glass is chilled, the ratio you use, the stirring technique, the amount and quality of ice. It’s a lot going on for a duo cocktail. It’s very particular and not many places know how to get it right.

Is there a cocktail that you particularly enjoy creating?

There are two or three cocktails that are great to make (and to drink!): the Aviation, the Corpse Reviver and the Last Word. Balance is key for all three, as they’re quite sharp and citrusy. I feel pretty satisfied when I get it right. Which is every time (laughs).

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