Today we’d like to introduce you to Maria Alejandra Perez.
Maria Alejandra, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
I was born in Caracas. Always passionate about design and fashion, I grew up among paintings and brushes and my hobby yesterday became my passion today. This is how painting on fabric together with design became my most authentic mean of expression.
From there, arises M.A.P, my Independent Hand-Painted Fashion Design brand that is itself the result of an organic process and artistic growth that represents the materialization of the hundreds of ideas, sketches and arts embodied in my old book of notes, where everything began.
I made a long journey of exploration and personal encounter to be today doing what I love. I have a university degree in Engineering that formed in me the capacity for planning and structuring that I apply today in all my goals. Later, I decided to live in the city of London for a year to experience, to know, to live the world and that is where I discovered my true passion; design and art. From here, I have a 180-degree turn to my life. I gave up my job as an engineer and started a new direction in life, at 27 years old. Studied Fashion Design and Fashion Photography, and I went back painting my old hobby.
In 2015, in the middle of the crisis that my country Venezuela suffered, I decided together with my Husband and daughter, to go live in Panama. After hundreds of tests, attempts, disappointments, achievements and a lot of effort, my first collection “Selva Negra” was born, which was launched in 2016 in Panama City.
Now, based in Miami, I am promoting the brand, thanking and enjoying minute by minute the opportunity to do what I love, with thousands of projects and wonderful things to come.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc. – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
It has been a path of ups and downs. In the beginning, it was difficult to decide to change lifestyle and break paradigms. I had to deal with many fears and insecurities, criticisms from society, among many other things, and at the same time, reinvent myself and be successful in it.
Then, I had to understand that any entrepreneurship has a maturation process that can be quite long. Consistency and perseverance have been the key to continue. Despite the moments of weakness where you want to abandon everything, we must continue, never stop, if it does not go well in a way, we should try another way and never lose heart. I guarantee you that it’s worth overcoming the problems, the difficulties, and the prejudices, for what you love to do.
Today, together with my dear husband and my two wonderful children, and a family that is in my heart wherever I go, I realize that it is about the process and not the result. That success is enjoying the path that life is, with its joys and stumbles, because they are part of the growth that will make you a better person and therefore happier. And if during this journey, you do what you are passionate about, it will make you feel satisfied and fulfilled.
We’d love to hear more about M.A.P Hand-painted Design.
M.A.P is an independent brand of hand-painted clothing. It is aimed at a self-confident woman, away from conventionalism and lover of the authentic. A vanguard and sophisticated woman with a rebellious essence.
The pieces are characterized by their exclusivity and sobriety thanks to their monochromatic prints. Each one is designed, hand-painted and signed by me; guaranteeing the authentic seal of the author. I use acrylic paints resistant to washing and fabrics such as linen, cotton, and silk, among others, which ensure the quality and durability of each piece.
My first collection “Selva Negra” was launched in 2016 in Panama City, together with the renowned design boutique Revolviendo El Baúl and with the support of the Lupa Panama art and design gallery.
My current collection “Atardeceres” is based on the deconstruction of the sunsets of my hometown Caracas, evoking its colors and nuances. The monochromatic prints that characterize the brand are a combination of inspirations ranging from the French style and its iconic polka dots, the fresh flowers of the Mediterranean summer, to the immortal vintage stripes. All framed in an urban and transgressive context, but impeccable style.
We’re interested to hear your thoughts on female leadership – in particular, what do you feel are the biggest barriers or obstacles?
I think today, despite the fact that more and more women are leading entrepreneurs, there are still some barriers that need to be overcome. For example, the continuous struggle of women between two worlds, their lives and their careers, and the paradigms that still exist about the family as an exclusively feminine theme. There are also the factors that this struggle can generate, such as lack of self-esteem and motivation.
I think it is very important to support ourselves as a gender since we share the same life experiences: we are mothers, wives, housewives, friends, and entrepreneurs. We must unite strategically, promote and empower each other.
Initiatives such as The Trailblazers: Rewriting the Narrative, are part of the solution.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.bymapstudio.com
- Phone: 786.474.0232
- Email: by_map@hotmail.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/by_map/
Image Credit:
Luis Martinez, Daniel Abreu
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