ABOUT MAI
MAI's mission is to blend timeless style with precious moments. Much like the short but beautiful display of cherry blossoms each year, our brand is a reminder to celebrate the present and treasure the fleeting moments.
Luxury Meets Minimalism
Our core collection is rooted in simplicity and elegance. We specialize in high quality black and white apparel, symbolizing the timeless nature of our designs. Our products are available in limited quantities due to the fact they are made to order and personally designed and embroidered by the founder. Every stitch and embroider speaks of our commitment to unparalleled quality.
Limited Edition Collections
Each season at MAI, we introduce limited-edition colors—a transient hue, available only for a fleeting period. Much like the cherry blossoms that bloom and fade, these colors are our way of marking time and making each moment special.
Our commitment to exclusivity goes beyond color. Each season, MAI unveils limited edition designs and items designed to be as special and unique as you.
About the Founder
Meet Maryann, the creator of MAI.
Ever since I was little, I was always interested in learning and being able to create something out of nothing. I loved paying attention to the smallest of details and always noticed things that most would overlook. This passion paved the way for my hobbies like drawing and learning languages and now making a clothing brand! My career has been mostly in Tech/Gaming so whenever I have free time I try to draw or do something creative. I usually get so immersed in the art that I lose track of time; it's only when I look at the clock that I noticed how many hours passed by. I get the same way when learning languages and was able to become conversationally fluent in Japanese in about 8 months (mostly thanks to my best friend, Akane, who I practiced with everyday). I'm currently learning Korean too but that's a story for another time :) Fun Fact: Akane and I also created a book together if you know some Japanese and want to sound more like a native speaker here:
日本語の先生はキツネのヤクザ | My Japanese Teacher is a Yakuza Fox
You're probably wondering what's the point of explaining all this, how did you come up with the idea for MAI? I'm getting there haha.
I already loved so many things about Japan and while I was learning the language, I never actually got the chance to visit. Fast forward to my first trip to Tokyo which just happened to be Cherry Blossom season. I'm from California so whenever people visit, it's mostly for beaches and nice weather but we don't really have many seasons. I wasn't specifically trying to visit Japan only for the cherry blossoms but the timing ended up working perfectly that way. It was my first time seeing cherry blossoms in full bloom and their beauty that captured the attention of everyone visiting. Akane had told me too that it was a good thing I arrived when I did because the cherry blossoms only fully bloom for a really short period of time. I had no idea prior that there was only a specific time frame where you can see them bloom so to me it was like a rare and exclusive experience. This is where the concept for MAI happened.
Like I mentioned before, I always pay attention to the smallest of details and what really stuck to me from that experience was the transient beauty of the cherry blossoms. I wanted to capture how it felt in that moment; being with people you care about, admiring the beauty of the cherry blossoms, living in the 'now' and treasuring the fleeting moments. The collections you'll see at MAI are inspired by all of this and I want to thank you for reading all this and being part of the adventure.
