Wholesale Terms

mavEn originated in a small, barebones workshop on the Bold Coast of Northeastern Maine. Armed with a childhood spent sewing alongside my mother and a recent education in the trade of auto upholstery, I actually began my professional leatherworking career as a custom motorcycle seatmaker in 2015 -- designing, sculpting and upholstering motorcycle seats for clientele across the United States. My interest in purse design began as a reprieve from my motorcycle seat work -- a way to keep my skills fresh and my aesthetic innovative, while allowing myself the opportunity to just do my own thing, no pressure. Located on 12 acres of raw land, my studio at that time was remote and barebones, and for the time that I spent working and living there, I felt partnered with, and at the mercy of, Nature. The solitude that my land offered and the pragmatism that my self-sufficient lifestyle required remain the two driving inspirations behind my artistic work. Soon, my experiments in purse design developed into a body of work, which was accepted into local galleries and stores. In 2018, I transitioned into a larger studio and opened it as a summertime storefront in the river village of Cherryfield, Maine. In the winter, I would hit the road with my inventory and for the years leading up to 2020, I was a full-time traveling artist, living and working out of my van and showing my work at fine craft shows throughout New England, as well as New York, Nashville, Tucson and San Francisco. In March 2020, I was traveling the coast of California and happened upon the small beach town of Cayucos in its off-season. I fell in love with the raw nature of nearby Big Sur and was welcomed and inspired by the local artist community. In November, I opened my second brick and mortar location, one block from the ocean in Cayucos. Similar to my first storefront in Maine -- still in operation and re-opening summer 2021 -- my Cayucos location serves as an open-studio and gallery, where the public can view my work in the same space where I create it. Although I do still take on the occasional motorcycle seat project, my interests lie in the simplicity of a really good, handmade leather bag -- one that remains timeless, individual, and unashamed of its natural beauty and imperfections, all while safely carrying the daily artifacts of our lives. Thank you for considering my designs for your store, your appreciation of handmade and quality craft is a gift that I do not take for granted. With gratitude, Emma Thieme Founder + Chief Designer