Biography

Maria Mauro  

Designer, Mau et Cie, LLC

As a child, I had very little spending money but yet I had a strong desire to buy material to be able to kindle my creativity to design garments. I had an innate desire to create.  I would pick the prettiest fabrics yet not knowing how to go about with my creativity as I did not know where to turn to for guidance or anyone that could point me in the right direction. 

I studied International Business at St. Joseph’s College and took an opportunity to study abroad my sophomore year in college.  Outside of studies I took a sewing class. Yet, I never mastered the craft for I was always pulled in different directions.  One thing I constantly enjoyed doing was crocheting, a skill that I learned from my childhood days. 

Since eight years old I have been creating stitches and when I became a mother, I started creating garments for my children.  I have this incredible energy filled with love which allows me to master haute couture garments with crochet. My wish is to bring back a lost art and delight the eyes of the young and old while giving a one of a kind look to the person wearing my pieces.

In 2018, I stepped out in courage and enrolled in my first show at Chicago Fashion Week. To my surprise, I won first place in the Avante Garde Competition.  On the same day of the show, a film producer who was impressed by my designs hired me on the spot to be the head stylist for a movie she was producing called Hapshetsut in California.  Since then I have participated in several events which include Indiana Fashion Week,  Midwest Fashion Week, Paris Fashion Week, and Couture New York Fashion Week. 

My influence to design stems from the natural patterns occurring in nature and the main couture houses of France, Italy, England and America.  The fashion shows that I have participated in have opened several opportunities to travel the world, including partnering with an association called Artslink with the possibility of going to St. Petersburg, Russia to collaborate with a team with the hopes of bringing back the lost art of crochet. So far I have created garments of different lines including resort wear, haute couture evening dresses and wedding dresses amongst other lines of garments.

Apart from showing my creativity to the world, my goal is to serve as a role model and inspire the young and old to dream, work hard, and persevere in life no matter what the circumstance.  My personal artistic vision is to be the best crochet designer in the world and a top designer of haute couture fashion.