Our Story

For as long as I can remember, I've felt a little gauche. A little awkward. A little out of place. A little different from everyone around me.

As a child, I was drawn to making things.

At eleven, I taught myself to sew and quickly discovered something that would shape the rest of my life: creativity wasn't just something I enjoyed. It was how I understood myself and the world around me.

What started with handmade projects and a first sewing machine soon became something deeper. When I designed, when I sewed, I saw myself—my real self. And that was the self I loved the most. As I got older, I spent countless hours studying fashion magazines, thrifting, teaching myself new skills, and developing an aesthetic that rarely fit neatly into the expectations around me.

While there were moments when standing apart felt lonely, creating always gave me a sense of purpose and belonging.

By the time I was eighteen, I had launched my first bag company, designing one-of-a-kind pieces from vintage fabrics and found materials. It wasn't a scalable business, but it taught me something important: I was happiest when I was making things that reflected a point of view that was distinctly my own.

Life, of course, had other plans.

Over the years, there were seasons of building, seasons of survival, and seasons of uncertainty. I became a parent. I started another business. I worked hard, learned hard lessons, and discovered strengths I didn't know I possessed.

Along the way, I built a life, but somewhere in the process, I lost touch with parts of myself that had always felt essential: my creativity, my voice, my sense of play, and the confidence to take up space exactly as I was.

For a long time, I believed those parts of me were gone.

Then, slowly, they started finding their way back. As I reconnected with myself, I realized something that now feels obvious: the things that had made me feel different throughout my life were never weaknesses.

They were the source of my creativity, resilience, and joy.

The goal was never to fit in. The goal was to become more fully myself.

Maison Gauche was born from that realization. Inspired by my own journey of losing and reclaiming my voice, and by the wonderfully diverse family and community around me, Maison Gauche celebrates individuality, self-expression, and belonging. We believe there is beauty in being different, that creativity deserves room to flourish, and that no one should have to shrink themselves to feel accepted.

The name itself embraces a word often used to describe someone awkward or unconventional. We see it differently.

To us, being gauche means having the courage to celebrate the fullest expression of yourself.

My hope is that when you carry or use something from Maison Gauche, you're reminded that the things that make you different are worth celebrating, and that your voice matters. 

Stay gauche, 

Founder, Maison Gauche