Mode Mischief Studios: Where Nostalgia Meets Play

Mia Zotos is the founder and designer behind Mode Mischief Studios, a label blending vintage references with a modern, playful spirit. Launched in 2021, the brand has quickly gained attention for its thoughtful approach to design and its slow, considered pace. Growing up in Melbourne, Mia was surrounded by creativity, culture, and a strong sense of community. From an early age, she was dreaming up brands, making shoes out of cardboard boxes, and learning to sew with help from her YiaYia. In high school, she studied fashion and fell in love with design history, all while exploring a growing interest in science that would later lead her to study physiology and anatomy at university. Even as she pursued her academic path, fashion was never far from her thoughts. She spent her free time sketching collections, watching DIY sewing tutorials, and flipping through fashion magazines. Mode Mischief was an idea she had been quietly developing since those early years, but it wasn’t until 2021 that she decided to pause her studies and bring the brand to life.

Halfway through the pandemic, she felt ready to take a leap. She had been saving from her two jobs just in case the timing ever felt right. That moment came when she began sketching again, contacting local makers, and shaping the beginnings of what Mode Mischief would become. “The idea had lived in my head and heart for years, but that was the moment everything felt real.”

From the start, Mia wanted the label to balance refined design with a playful spirit. The name captures this duality. “‘Mode’ nods to timeless and classic elements of fashion. ‘Mischief’ adds a twist. It represents the unique elements we add to our creations,” she explains. “Together, it's a reflection of the vision behind Mode, balancing intentional design with a playful attitude.”

Today, Mode Mischief is known for its vintage-inspired staples with a modern edge. Each piece is designed to last beyond trend cycles and to be styled in multiple ways. “I love creating pieces that tell a story and make people feel something. It’s about play, nostalgia, and thoughtful design, underpinned by quality and ethical practices.”

The brand’s first drop focused on reinterpretations of femininity, built around minimal yet expressive silhouettes. It featured a pair of low-rise suit trousers, a mesh midi skirt, and a matching tube top. “I wanted every piece to feel nostalgic but new, like something you’d find in your mum or grandmother’s wardrobe, but with a twist that made it yours.”

Mia often begins her creative process with a single feeling, image, or word. From there, she enters research mode, gathering references from history, pop culture, art, and even science. She draws inspiration from art galleries, vintage records, Japanese architecture, antique stores, and nature. “I love observing people too — how they style things and express their personal style.”

Her design studio is just as layered as her inspiration. “It’s a bit chaotic in the best way. Fabrics, lab dips, mockups, scribbled paper, '90s Vogue magazines, sonny angels — it’s all there.” She works with a huge moodboard that shifts with every new collection. Incense and carefully curated playlists help her get into the zone. “My space definitely isn’t the cleanest, but I quite like the chaotic energy. It lets all my thoughts go wild.”

There is no typical day in her world. One moment she’s sketching or fitting samples, the next she’s deep in planning logistics or managing the brand’s next pop-up. “I touch every part of the brand, from design and styling to socials and marketing. It’s chaotic, but I love the constant shifting between detail and big-picture thinking.”

Her own style plays a central role in shaping the brand. “Mode Mischief is an extension of how I dress. Playful, comfortable, sometimes unexpected,” she says. “A lot of our designs are multi-wear or adjustable. I bring my DIY flair into styling, and I’m always thinking about how a piece can evolve in someone’s wardrobe over time.”

Since launching, one of the most rewarding parts of building the label has been seeing that connection come to life. “When people tag us in outfits or tell me how confident they feel in a piece, it’s surreal.” But it hasn’t been without its challenges. “As a founder, especially at the beginning, you find yourself across all roles and make quite a lot of compromise to grow. But the challenge is part of what makes it so meaningful.”

There are small touches that reflect just how much care goes into every detail. Each item comes in a reusable pouch, and the Graphic Tees arrive in small fruit-themed takeaway boxes. “If you order the Fig Tee or Cherry Tee, it feels like you’re opening a grocery box of figs or cherries,” she says. “It’s honestly so cute.”

Looking ahead, Mia hopes to expand Mode Mischief into a larger creative space. “I see Mode Mischief evolving into more than just fashion. I’d love to make Mode a universe for all aspects of creativity. More limited collections, artist collaborations, pop-ups in new cities, maybe even a space of our own. I want us to grow thoughtfully and create an experience that people genuinely connect with.”

That next chapter is already in motion. This June, the brand will host its first New York City pop-up, running from June 7 to 15 at 69 Mercer Street in SoHo. It’s a milestone Mia is proud of, and one that feels in line with everything the brand has stood for since day one.

“I want people to feel confident, expressive, and completely themselves,” she says. “That’s the energy I hope they carry with them, whether they’re wearing Mode in Melbourne, New York, or anywhere else.”