Story 3

Maries Creative Painter

Maries’ Story…

We believe that everything in life begins with a sense of DESTINY…

And it continues to accompany us when each element inside it has similarities in terms of passion and development orientation.

>> Explore Lepironia Conical Hats HERE

1. Starting with Serendipity…

“I really love drawing, and I’ve been in the drawing profession for 13 years since 2010. During my learning process, I also took on extra work and participated in various exhibitions in school and society. After graduating, I became a self-employed painter…”

Finding a place that can nurture one’s passion for art while providing good income is always a goal for many young people. After graduating from University of Arts, Hue University, fate led Dương Thị Ý Phương to Maries.

“The coincidence of fate is quite remarkable. When I was seeking a new environment to further develop my abilities and dreams, I came across media coverage about products made from natural grass. The products were beautiful and environmentally friendly… I found it very interesting. So, I wanted to contribute a small part to that. That’s why I chose Maries as my next destination…”

Ý Phương has a good academic record and honed her skills by participating in programs both within and outside of school. In 2018, Ý Phương won the First Prize with the artwork “Fading Away” using lacquer material at the Student Art Exhibition 2018.

2. The journey is continued by the similarity in passion and developmental direction…

“I chose Maries because I love the creative nature of the job, which satisfies my long-standing passion for drawing. Through my work, I realized that my artistic strokes contribute to the development of our local craft products… I believe that as Maries becomes better known, it will significantly address employment issues for female artisans and also help protect the environment, as consumers opt for Grass Hats made from natural materials instead of other difficult-to-decompose substances.”

Ý Phương is the creator of a series of new creative patterns at Maries, featuring a Classical style. These patterns are based on imagery such as flowers, leaves, animals, historical motifs, or geometric shapes…

Each pattern, Ý Phương combines with colors in different tones such as warm, cool, subdued, monochromatic, or contrasting, complementing each other to create artworks of high artistic value.

Moreover, your patterns often draw inspiration from bag designs, forming well-balanced layouts that align with current trends and cater to consumers’ preferences.

“…all the creations I make are a source of pride for me, because during the creative process, I thoroughly research layout, form, and color. Each of my creations is like my spiritual child!”

>> Explore Maries’ Collections HERE

3. Continue to develop passion at Maries

“Previously, alongside my studies, I used to create pattern designs on traditional Vietnamese dresses and clothing for fashion stores at home. However, due to the fabric’s limitations, there were challenges in terms of style and creativity. I was fortunate to become a part of Maries. I’m silently grateful to Ms. Sương Lan for giving me the opportunity to explore a material that is not easy to paint on and completely new to me…”

Lepironia Grass material is not as easy to paint on as paper or fabric, which is why traditional designs often appear rustic and simple, not aligning well with the trends and modern users’ needs, especially for gifting.

It was a daring start to experiment with a new material – coarse and challenging for color adherence – by the freshly graduated artist. But with ceaseless effort in a creative environment for young minds, Ý Phương gradually grew fond of and attached to Maries’ Lepironia Grass products.

“…thanks to the support, encouragement, and dedication for a period of time, I gradually grew accustomed to and fell in love with it. I found that Grass Hats suited me and my style. This is why I’ve been with Maries for over 2 years now. Presently and in the future, I aspire to be a strong warrior within the Maries team, creating more artworks. Producing pieces of high aesthetic value that will be cherished by many!”

Whether big or small, every business carries a dream. At Maries, our aspiration is not only to elevate the essence of traditional handicrafts but also to bridge Vietnamese craftsmanship to the world. Additionally, we aim to provide an ideal working environment for our staff and artisans – those who directly contribute to our masterpieces.

All of us have met by destiny, inspiring one another, and together, we’ve built and molded distinctive aesthetic products under the Maries brand. This is driven by the mission of love for the traditional craft village community and the dream of a future where everyone enjoys stability and prosperity.

Maries – August 25, 2023