RIP Maggie Manby
Maggie Manby started Manby International Sportswear in 1976 with her husband Roger. She spent her life firmly at the helm of the business, manufacturing and developing ski clothing, drawing from her own extensive knowledge of the mountains, and was a fun and familiar presence around the industry for many years. Sadly, she passed away in April this year.
You may have seen Maggie Manby on the slopes in Obergurgl, in the aisles at SLIDE or on the stand at SOLTEX. She was a constant presence for over 40 years within the ski industry. Maggie absolutely loved sharing time and stories with friends in the industry but sadly January 2023 was Maggie’s last visit to SLIDE. She passed away on 13th April after a short period in hospital, just before her 80th birthday.
She will be remembered by many, for the wonderful food she provided for customers over the years, for the laughter she brought to the stand, for her dancing on the tables in the Nederhutte in her early 70s, and for her commitment to the business and to the British ski industry.
Maggie met Roger on a mountain in Austria in the 70s and they soon found a love affair for making ski clothing in Suffolk. Making one-piece suits for Peter Stuyvesant in the 80s and dressing most of the tour operators we know and love, from Inghams to Thompsons.
Roger and Maggie started the business working from home. They soon outgrew the living room and moved into premises in Sudbury, Suffolk, making lifelong friends with the other likeminded, free spirited entrepreneurs who they shared a factory with.
The 80s saw the business grow and neon colours take hold. Lots of fun was had making clothing and testing it out on the mountains. The late 90s was a difficult period for the business with the recession, alongside changing production and buying patterns, making running a ski business in Suffolk difficult. But, resilient as ever, Maggie and Roger made it through tough trading times.
Early 2000 saw Fiona, their daughter, join them in the business, and production moved to the far east. By this point the business started to focus purely on snowsports accessories and, as they say, the rest is history!
Maggie was an inspiration, raising a family and a business at the same time, and always having fun whilst doing it. That isn’t to say, this wasn’t without its trials and tribulations, but Maggie always managed to find a positive view. Interested in the people she met through the trade, we would always joke that Maggie would know what everyone had had for Christmas dinner. Never intrusive just genuinely interested in others, she connected with many people over the years and will be greatly missed by family and friends.
