ma·ven /ˈmāv(ə)n/ someone who knows how
est. 2015
Maven Leather + Design was established in remote Maine in 2015. The label was founded by artist, natural dyer and auto trimmer, Emma Thieme, who has taken her multi-faceted work from her home in the remote Eastern Maine woods to the Central Coast of California, where she now resides and operates a dedicated studio and storefront.
All Maven leather purses and bags begin as a concept in her small leather studio, located above the Maven brick and mortar storefront in Cayucos, California. Most pieces are one-of-a-kind originals never to be recreated in the same way again. Maven also offers a limited edition Core Collection, which is produced with humble production help from local artisans.
Passionate about the natural world and her roots in the wilderness, Emma incorporates natural botanical dyeing into the Maven color palette. Many of the vibrant colors that you see in the Maven leather collections were dyed by hand at Emma's leather studio, using sustainable natural dye concepts that date back 15,000+ years in human civilization. Emma forages for materials locally and supports ethical, independent dye suppliers. It is Emma's continual quest to seek Nature's abundant colors and add them to the Maven palette, lessening the need for synthetic dyes in her work.
On a mission to work with the highest quality materials, close to the Earth and already in existence, Emma works with minimally-processed, full grain American buffalo leather hides. She chooses the free-roaming American buffalo for its strength (superior to cowhide) and natural character -- exhibiting beautiful markings of a life well lived. The scars and natural patina of these beautiful leathers are always on display in the Maven collections.
To read more about Emma’s work and the story behind the Maven label, please click here. Spoiler Alert: it all began with custom leather motorcycle seats.
