Some collections arrive fully formed, as if they were always waiting to be made. Secret Garden is one of them.
While working on our SS27-collection, Ritu was heavily inspired by Monet's iconic painting Bridge over a Pond of Water Lilies, resulting in a collection built around a signature palette of Rose Blush, Lemon Gold, Clover Green and Blue Lilies. Together, these colours feel like light filtering through a garden in full bloom.
The garments in the collection are crafted from beautiful lace, delicate broderie and dreamy cotton voile with refined details, all in the romantic feminine silhouettes that define MISSMAYA.
Secret Garden has something for everyone and for every occation, from garden parties to weddings, or just those long summer days.
Across the seven seas
My parents, originally from India, moved to Norway in the early 70's. My father ran a garment factory in India, selling large quantities of white cotton blouses and elastic-waist pants, especially in the 80's. As a child, I spent time in my parents’ stores—not designing yet, but mastering cash counting.
Fashion felt like a natural career path, so I studied at Esmod in Oslo. After graduating, my brother and I launched the brand “Dia Dia” and opened a women’s boutique in Sandvika. At just 23, I catered to a more mature clientele, learning firsthand how comfort and fit define confidence. Small details—sleeve length, armhole space, and flattering cuts—shaped my approach, leading me to develop an extended size chart up to 4XL.
By 2016, I was ready for change. I experimented with bold colors and feminine details, designing the Aisha dress. It didn’t sell well, making me realize my brand had plateaued. In 2017, I reintroduced the dress under a new name—MISSMAYA, inspired by my eldest daughter. A fresh campaign, a model in sneakers and sunglasses, and a spontaneous webshop launch later—we had sold 20,000 dresses. It felt like a little fairytale!
