More about Māya: Our Story

The creation of Māya

Māya was born from a love for textiles and a passion for sustainability, heritage, and craftsmanship.

Our journey began with a simple belief that design has the power to make a difference. Our motto, “Designed to make a difference,” summarises our mission and drives every project we take on and everything we do.

Our commitment to sustainability

At Māya, we are dedicated to promoting environmental sustainability. We prioritize using eco-friendly, non-toxic inks and dyes and sustainable natural materials in all our textile and design projects and workshops. We research our projects carefully and work with suppliers who share our commitment to sustainable production processes.

We aim to create products that support sustainable and eco-friendly living and have minimal environmental impact. We also focus on minimal waste creation and learning as we go along in our projects. We aim to educate and inform by also focusing on skills upliftment. As we learn and grow, we hope to uplift and grow with the creatives we work with.

Preserving heritage textile crafts

We are passionate about preserving and promoting heritage textile crafts. Our projects are focused on collaboration with artisans and communities, showcasing the rich and diverse textile traditions from lesser-known regions. By sharing our experiences and stories, we aim to work alongside artisans to help revive and sustain traditional textile techniques, ensuring all the crafts we work with are documented and that the stories are passed down to future generations. We believe in the power of heritage crafts to connect us with our past and help us have a more sustainable future.

Our work with artisan communities

Empowerment is at the heart of Māya. We are committed to creating fair and transparent working relationships with artisan communities. We want to support fair wages, safe working conditions, skill development and education opportunities.

The artisans we work with are not labourers in factories. You will know who we work with by following our projects on social media.

We focus on women’s empowerment, prioritising collaborations with woman-owned businesses and small enterprises. We aim to foster a creative environment with all our projects and spaces of growth and economic independence.

Ethical practices

Ethical sourcing and production are non-negotiable at Māya. We ensure all partners adhere to ethical practices from the start of the creative process to the final delivery of the products to us. Transparency is critical, and we are committed to maintaining open and honest communication about our design processes and the incredible people and talented artists we work with.

When you invest in our wearable and functional textiles, you invest in a craft community and a heritage craft. Every Māya product is made with love, integrity and respect for people and the planet.

Celebrating cultural heritage

Māya celebrates the diverse and colourful cultural heritage of textile crafts. We seek to promote an appreciation for traditional craftsmanship and textile crafts, especially those at risk of extinction. Our products and stories aim to inspire cultural connection and more profound love and appreciation of textile traditions.

Innovation

We are deeply rooted in tradition but also forward-thinking. Māya is committed to supporting the research and development of innovative sustainable materials, print processes, and technologies that reduce the environmental impact of textiles. We want to support artists who work in the crafts by documenting their stories and working with them on bespoke design projects. We believe in exploring new ways of thinking, creating, and working while maintaining the integrity of the heritage crafts we love and work with.

Education

Education is the most critical foundation of our projects. We believe that education can inspire awareness and, awareness, can bring about change.

Māya is dedicated to engaging consumers and all stakeholders with our stories and products, raising awareness about the importance of sustainable textiles and heritage preservation. Through education, we aim to inspire a broader movement towards sustainability, especially regarding heritage crafts.

Collaboration

Collaboration is at the core of our design approach. We actively seek collaborations, working relationships and partnerships with like-minded creatives, artists, businesses, and initiatives to share knowledge and experience. We want to work collectively towards a more sustainable future in the textile industry.

We are and always will be a catalyst for positive change

Māya aims to be a catalyst for positive change. We want to demonstrate that sustainability and heritage preservation can go hand in hand with business success and innovation. By adhering to our founding objectives and continuously seeking more profound connections and learning opportunities, we will continue to grow our business and our community and develop our research. We believe in innovation, iteration and adaptation. We hope to inspire creative thinking and more projects in sustainable textile design and heritage preservation.

The future of Māya

At Māya, we are more than just a sustainable textile line of a studio; we are a movement towards a more sustainable and culturally rich world. We invite you to join us on this journey, to support our mission, and to make a difference through a thoughtful, sustainable and eco-friendly way of living.

With our small effort, we want to help the sustainable textile industry and inspire a future where heritage and innovation coexist harmoniously.

We aim to work on projects and designs that can positively impact one person at a time.