Today we’d like to introduce you to Maja Kotala.
Hi Maja, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
My name is Maja Kotala, and for four years, I have been supporting women in East Africa.
I am a founder of an educational program called Sewing Together. My goal is very simple – I want to give wonderful women, what I was lucky enough to get from life. It is mostly independence, that can be achieved by education in running a business and learning practical design and sewing skills free of charge.
My journey to get where I am today was long and full of ups and downs. I started as a model, but unfortunately, my career finished due to health problems. However, the World full of lights and beautiful people was something I wanted to pursue more. When I was 18, I packed my suitcases kissed my parents, and left to chase my dreams in Australia. I didn’t know back then that it might be fashion and design.
I was doing a modeling show- end of the year parade for a school called TAFE ( the Australian modeling standards are much healthier than the one in Europe ) and that was it. I was hooked on design and creativity. This was as well beginning of magic in my life. I had an interview with Nicholas Huxley, a school director at the time, who created a space for me to study.
I graduated and started my brand, but my financial situation didn’t let me spread my wings as I wanted. At the same time, my visa was expiring and my heart got broken… so to get out of this difficult situation life opened another door: Paris! I worked there as a brand agent representing international brands on a global market for the next 6 years.
And this way we are getting to 2018, when as a mature woman, I realized how lucky I was and it was time to give back, hence I created Sewing Together – a program that helps women and a brand that presents their talents.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
It’s never a smooth road to success. For me, it’s a constant battle with loneliness, lack of support, cultural differences, and searches for who I am as a woman.
Life is a rollercoaster. My father always said you need to reach the bottom to know how the top feels, so I am grateful for every bad and good experience, as it created who I am today.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
Sewing Together – Is an educational program whose aim is to teach women a skill of fashion and design, pattern making, sewing, but as well marketing, photography, and business, to give them a chance for independence in life and the future without being vulnerable to trafficking or any other type of exploitation.
The educational program is free of charge, last 6 months (in two terms), and is directed to women who couldn’t afford education and thus are considered vulnerable to exploitation.
Sewing Together was Founded in 2018, and run its first edition in Uganda together with Kimuli Fashionblity where it trained 4 young people/leaders and additional 2 women with disabilities. Currently, Kimuli Fashionability, as a result of the course has its new facility in Maya and runs independently with 5 regular employees.
In 2019, Sewing Together in collaboration with Salvation Army trained 20 women in a spirit of women empowerment in Nairobi, Kenya. In 2020, Maja Kotala opened a school project in Bamburi, Mombasa, and started to work with Haart Kenya.
Besides fashion training, Sewing Together actively fights menstrual poverty in Kenya, by providing free reusable pads for Women in Mombasa County, Voi, Thika, and Maasai Tribes. It shares awareness about the issue in Poland and beyond through collaborations with established brands.
Alright so before we go can you talk to us a bit about how people can work with you, collaborate with you or support you?
We are different from other charities, as we don’t base our work on donations (which are of course always welcomed) I believe everybody should be helping other human being the way they can.
You can support our mission by simply purchasing our product from the website: www.mkotala.com.
We are currently working on the collection called African Chic, which is inspired by the times I lived in Paris with a Kenyan twist. The collection will be available at the beginning of May.
Pricing:
- Dresses 50-70 USD
- Kimonos 40-50 USD
- Shorts 30-40 USD
- Shirts 35-45 USD
Contact Info:
- Email: contact@mkotala.com
- Website: https://www.mkotala.com/
- Instagram: @sewing.together
- Facebook: @majakotala.sewingtogether
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCEoZwbLCwArFxRkVc3FFrsQ
Image Credits
Sewing Together Archives
