Marrisa Wilson on Identity, Inspiration, and Carving Her Own Lane in Fashion

Marrisa Wilson was born and raised in New Jersey, but her roots run deep in Guyana. As a first-generation Guyanese-American, her background has played a key role in shaping her perspective as a designer.

In an interview with Business Insider, Wilson shared how creativity ran in her family—especially from her mother. “When I was in second grade, for my First Communion, she reupholstered all the chairs in our kitchen,” Wilson recalled. “There were scraps of fabric and fabric-covered buttons that she made.” Wilson later used those same buttons on her Barbies, which led her mother to teach her how to hand-sew. That eventually led to her first mini sewing machine, and later, a full-size Brother machine.

Wilson graduated from Marist College in 2015 with a major in fashion design and double minors in fashion merchandising and product development. She also studied fashion in Paris. “I wanted to go into this industry from a young age,” she said. “That’s why I work on having a strong point of view in my designs. I want to make sure that everything feels right coming from me and doesn’t feel like it could just be anyone else in the world.”

Wilson has learned to strike a rare balance between individuality and relatability—and she’s seeing the results.

Growing up, Wilson also drew inspiration from Teen Vogue, using the magazine for collages and mood boards. She vividly remembers one cover featuring Chanel Iman and Jourdan Dunn. “That was the first time I saw someone who looked like me on a magazine,” she said. Then “I realised there weren’t many people like me in fashion.”

Her heritage continues to inform her work in a tangible way. The colours, spices, and flavours of Guyanese culture that I grew up around are things I draw from, she told Insider. “Going to Guyana as a kid—we have a house down there—and seeing the colours, the birds, hearing the language, I felt the shift in how the world moved. There was a slower pace of life.”

Wilson launched her brand, MARRISA WILSON NY, in 2016. The womenswear line is known for cool, relaxed styling combined with bold textiles and vibrant, in-house print artwork. The brand reflects Wilson’s distinct design sensibility, one heavily influenced by soulful music and eclectic interior spaces.

MWNY is built around celebrating multicultural women and creating a strong, inspiring community. Through her work, Wilson is committed to promoting diversity in an industry that still has far to go.

She’s now a member of the Council of Fashion Designers of America. Her designs have been worn by by celebrities like Tamron Hall and Sherri Shepherd. She was named a finalist for Fashion Group International’s “Rising Star” award, and she’s worked with major brands like Oscar de la Renta, Calvin Klein, Levi’s, and Gigi Burris.

Marrisa Wilson is not just making clothes—she’s making space. And it’s hers.