Teaching herself to pattern and sew as a child Marina quickly grew into creating custom designs at an early age. During the start of her formal training Marina studied under a Savile Row tailor, creating her final school collection. The presentation of those designs awarded her an invitation to apprentice couture in Rome, Italy.Shortly following her return to LA, after three years designing in Rome, Marina opened her design agency, factory, and custom atelier; Alumni Design & Development.After ten successful years Marina decided to slow her pace of life and design and open Marina Leight Atelier. The Atelier is a space to showcase her namesake label. MLA is a zero waste space where all waste is ether recycled, composted, or repurposed.The Marina Leight Atelier label is inspired by the beauty of her childhood living in the forests of the San Juan Islands every winter and on a fishing boat in Alaska by summer.