hope sews photography by ELLIE GRACE beauty by CAROLINE POLLY, CLAIRE POWELL, JULIA SUNG, KAELA SUNG models JERON DUHART, MAYA MUTALIK, THANH PHAM, TELE SOGA
In an interview with Managing Editor Emmel El-Fiky, CEO and head designer of the fashion brand Hope Sews, Maya Mutalik, discusses the story of how the business came to be, with an emphasis on her Ghanaian team who help make Hope Sews as special as it is. written by EMMEL EL-FIKY
Even if she has lofty goals, it’s difficult to expect a young woman entering college to also start a business. Maya Mutalik, a sophomore at Babson College and the CEO and head designer of the fashion brand Hope Sews, knew this, but the opportunity presented itself in a way she couldn’t deny. At age 18, Mutalik visited Ghana for the first time with the goal of learning more about the issues faced by women and girls in West Africa. “I have always been passionate about working in the field of economic development with marginalized groups, and specifically providing income-generation growth opportunities to women and girls who unfortunately are often left behind.” She describes the impact of meeting the women there and becoming inspired by their creativity and ingenuity. “After meeting a passionate, talented, and hardworking seamstress named Vida Sowah and learning her story, I felt a strong drive to learn more about the barriers [women face] in the Ghanaian seamstress industry. I simultaneously fell in love with the beautiful, vibrant, and unique African wax prints that are omnipresent in the Ghanaian market. My love for fashion eventually collided with my passion for social impact, and I founded Hope Sews, with the intent of
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