Contemporary fashion and practicality often don’t come hand-in-hand in the world of catwalks and supermodels. But Mia Murr’s internationally recognized brand, Monosuit, gets the best of both worlds by applying efficient features on a space science-themed fashion line. She featured in season 15 of Shark Tank but didn’t get a deal. As of 2023, Monosuit is worth an estimated $3 million.
Mia Murr’s Background
Maria “Mia Murr” Agapkina is a fashion visionary, and her personality shows it. She entered the Tank with charisma that embodied her brand, which helped viewers see the real value of her futuristic jumpsuits.
Mia started her career as an associate director at Ernst & Young, a consulting company. The Russian beauty worked there for 15 years and also studied art and design at Central Saint Martins. This gave her the space to form ideas that would later turn her into a global fashion mogul.
Her style heavily featured motifs of interplanetary travel and one-piece jumpsuits or “monosuits,” if you will. Elena Skazhenyuk (her friend from EY) is a co-founder and takes care of sales and marketing, while Maria is the lead fashion designer.
The Rise of Monosuit
After launching in 2018, Monosuit has made waves in the fashion industry. The ladies resigned from their day jobs to focus solely on the startup, and the sacrifice has paid off handsomely. They were able to expand outside the USA and team up with experts from other countries.
They reached the UK, France, Italy, and Germany. They got celebrities like Maye Musk, Grimes, Kylie Jenner, Kim, and Khloe Kardashian to model for their collections. This early success enabled Monosuit to raise $2 million from investors at a $12 million valuation.
The founders used the money to introduce smart jumpsuits that have secret zippers in the lower back for comfort. In 2019, they adapted sustainability by using seamless clothing. Monosuit has been on the cover of magazines like Glamour, Vanity Fair, Vogue, Forbes, and Marie Claire.
After Shark Tank
Monosuit hasn’t had any trouble attracting media attention but Shark Tank’s platform will take them to the next level. Fans liked Mia’s upbeat energy but for some she went over the top. One person on Twitter labeled it as the “most annoying pitch ever.” The pitch was slightly cringey but this should help it get more attention through syndication.
Traffic to her website surged after the episode aired in October 2023. With $245,000 in sales over the last 12 months, this figure should grow by at least 25%.If you’re feeling a little classy and want to know what they have in store, check out their website, Monosuit.com. The Monosuit retails from $290 to $350 and they also sell monoskins, dresses, and accessories.
The company ships worldwide, and has a couple of partner stores with physical locations. In Los Angeles, you can buy Monosuit pieces at Wolf & Badger and at Flying Solo in New York. Agapkina is keen to expand her retail footprint despite how profitable the direct-to-consumer model is.
According to their Linkedin profile, they have two other full-time employees. Although the brand has a strong following on social media, their accounts on Facebook and Instagram don’t receive a lot of engagement.
