MAESE PLACE

What is your favourite thing about being a fashion designer?

My favorite part of being a fashion designer is seeing something that once existed only in my imagination become something real – something I can hold in my hands. There’s something beautiful about that process. It feels like making a little dream come true.

But what I love most is how designing has changed the way I see the world. Looking for inspiration has made me more curious and more aware of the details I used to overlook: colors, textures, shapes, and everyday moments. Everything feels richer and more interesting now, as though there’s an extra layer of beauty to discover. That’s probably the most precious thing design has given me: a new way of seeing.

What's your process for designing a new collection?

My process always starts with practicality. I’m both analytical and creative, so before thinking about how a bag will look, I think about how it will work. What do I want to carry? What size feels right? How can I make things easier to reach and keep organized? Those everyday questions give me a starting point.

From there, I explore how to make the design interesting through shape, texture, and often a pop of color. With my first bag, I focused on shape, breaking down the familiar silhouette of a handbag and reimagining it in a more geometric way. With my second design, I explored texture, combining two different materials and introducing pleated leather.

I tend to let one of those elements lead, while keeping functionality at the heart of the design. I want each bag to feel distinctive, but also to be something you love using every day.

How did you become interested in fashion design?

My mother is an artist, and she played a huge role in how I see the world. She taught me to find beauty in everything, and looking back, I realize how much she trained my eye.

I’ve always loved fashion, although at first I was more drawn to architecture. What eventually drew me toward fashion design was its power as a form of self-expression. It can tell you so much about someone before they even speak. It’s a language in itself, bringing together art, movement, and personality. I love how we can use it to highlight what we love about ourselves and choose what we reveal. That connection between design and the person wearing it is what made me want to explore it further.

How do you handle criticism of your designs?

I’m usually my own first critic. My relationship with a design can change: I might love something one day and question it the next. That reminds me how subjective design can be, especially where it overlaps with art.

I try to stay open to criticism and understand what I can learn from it, while recognizing that people will naturally respond differently to the same piece. I don’t think a design needs to appeal to everyone. Sometimes, the very thing that makes it less appealing to one person is what makes it special to someone else.