Urban Goddess was born from two sisters, a lifetime of memories, and a shared love of beauty, craft, and the quiet power of what a woman wears.

A Family History of Fashion

Our global journey begins long before us, across Lebanon, Brazil, Italy, and eventually Australia. It is a story carried through generations of women, international migration, resilience, creativity and, always, clothing.

Our mother was a remarkable woman - a teacher, a lawyer, and a mother to six children. Though she had studied law and worked as a teacher, her true love was always dressmaking, and despite her parents' encouragement of a more traditional academic path, her creative spirit never faded. When the time came, she chose to follow her heart, opening a clothing manufacturing business and a boutique in Brazil. 

Tragically, our mother passed away at just 59 after a battle with cancer. The loss was profound, and the business eventually closed. But her legacy - her elegance, her work ethic, her love of fashion and the impact she made teaching never left us. Today, there is a school in Brazil named in her honour: Escola Professora Mary Rosa Baracat Chaib, in the city of Santo Antônio de Posse, São Paulo.

Our connection to clothing runs even deeper through our grandparents.

Our paternal grandmother, Carolina, studied in a French school in Beirut at a time when few women did. She learned sewing and embroidery before migrating to Brazil, where she met her husband, Elias - also from Lebanon. Here, she helped to support her family by creating and embroidering exquisite bridal trousseaus for wealthy Brazilian women. She also taught us embroidery, knitting, crochet, and French songs, filling our childhood with artistry and culture.

A hand-embroidered tablecloth she began when my mother was pregnant remains a treasured heirloom within the family and has travelled from Brazil to Italy, and now to Australia.

On our maternal side, our grandparents were entrepreneurs who built a number of businesses, including a milk bar, a cotton farm, a facility to prepare cotton to be sold as thread, and a bazaar selling fabrics, food and beauty products. 

The Founders Story

Urban Goddess was founded by sisters Marcia and Patricia.

Marcia has been living in Australia for over three decades, and Patricia still in Brazil. As their children have grown and lives have evolved, they found themselves at a beautiful turning point: the freedom to return to what they have always loved - fashion, fabric, and the way a well-made garment can make a woman feel.

In 1990, Marcia moved to Italy on a medical scholarship in Milan, and was surrounded by beauty, craftsmanship and style. Later, she came to Australia, built a life, worked hard as an Obstetrician and Gynaecologist, raised a family, and watched Australian fashion evolve into what it is today - dynamic, confident and inspiring.

Meanwhile, Patricia developed an exceptional eye for quality fabrics, textures and how patterns come to life in garments - skills she learned working with their mother. As her children completed university, she too felt the pull back to fashion.

So together, they took a leap of faith…

The sisters sought out beautiful, high-quality pieces from Italy and China, visiting factories in person to ensure ethical production, fair treatment of workers, and premium craftsmanship. Here they fell in love with natural fibres such as cotton and linen, and sustainable textiles that feel as good as they look.

The Urban Goddess

Urban Goddess is more than just clothing.

It’s designed for women who want to feel elegant, comfortable and most importantly, powerful. We believe that what you wear can shift how you stand, how you move, and how you feel in the world.

Our brand is truly multicultural, shaped by French, Arabic, Italian, Brazilian and African influences, blended with contemporary Australian style. It is a beautiful mixture of heritage and modernity.

Through Marcia’s work in healthcare, supporting women through some of the most intimate moments of their lives, she has learned one simple truth: every woman wants to shine. As Marcia and Patricia’s grandfather used to say, “Everything is better with a beautiful dress - and a nice perfume.” He even believed a touch of Chanel could mend a broken heart!

Urban Goddness is here to dress you not just beautifully, but meaningfully x