Today we’d like to introduce you to Maggie O’Reilly.
Maggie, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
I have always enjoyed traveling as early as I can remember. I studied abroad in Mexico while in college and I spent time in Argentina post-college. With my full-time job, I am so very blessed to travel, so I always make a point to visit the local markets and discover unique items. Particularly, anything with bright colors, textures or leather. I started bringing textiles and leather pieces home with me and saw their potential in the US market. Soon, I began researching the possibility to design my own pieces that would focus on fair trade principles as well as supporting artisans and families from communities. When I met my husband, who is from Peru, I knew that it would be the first country to fuel my passion. Peru has a rich artisan history and craftsmanship with colorful textiles that I could re purpose into fun fashion pieces. I always wanted to find a way to connect my future family to their culture and to give back to communities less fortunate. That is how MAYTA Collection began in 2016, and since then, I have expanded my brand with partnering with a social organization in Mexico and also I started a handbag collection repurposing textile pillows that I source in collaboration with an artisan family in Marrakech, Morocco.
Has it been a smooth road?
Because I have a full-time job and have since become a mama to two children, processes go slower than if I was focusing full time on MAYTA Collection. However, my full-time job offers me the opportunity to travel to so many places they really go hand and hand. One of my main struggles is work-life balance. I have the personality where I like a lot going on and I love multi tasking, but sometimes it can be overwhelming and I need to take a step back and focus on my family.
I have really grown with the company, if I look back to where I started, I do not come from a design background, so there was a big learning curve, but I like taking risks, I have no problem asking for help and I have some really great mentors who have pointed me in the right direction.
So let’s switch gears a bit and go into the MAYTA Collection story. Tell us more about the business.
MAYTA Collection designs and collaborates with three countries: Mexico, Morocco, and Peru. As a company, we value quality and small batch production. When designing or creating a new piece, I always try and repurpose textiles and leather. I design things that I love and MAYTA collection gives me the creativity to blend all the things I am passionate about (culture, food, history, family, color, and textile).
I am most proud to see where I have come as a company over the past two years, and I am still learning and growing. I was most recently hosted by the Peruvian government to attend Peru Moda. This is an event featuring the best of the Peruvian fashion and manufacturing industries. I was able to sit down with Peruvian producers and suppliers to work on my latest designs.
What sets MAYTA Collection apart from others is that our principal focus is on community and values. We strive for consistent quality and design that develops a product that is as unique and special as the person who buys it.
How do you think the industry will change over the next decade?
I think more and more businesses are starting to focus on storytelling behind their brand. I believe it is so important for enriching the buying experience. I want to people to connect further beyond the story. It would be great to lead small groups on culinary and cultural excursions where we visit independent designers and makers in those countries and visit their workshops.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.maytacollection.com
- Email: maggie@maytacollection.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/maytacollection
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/maytacollection
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