About MAIKA
The MAIKA story
From home studios to co-working spaces... to airports and school pick-ups. We are all modern nomads. And we need functional tools to help us navigate the hectic. This was the inspiration for MAIKA.
I come from a family with over 4 decades of global experience in the luxury bags and lifestyle industry. While I've always had a deep appreciation for the beauty and quality of high-end craftsmanship and materials, the price points of these beautiful goods felt elusive.
My vision is to bring well-designed, sustainably-made products that are used everyday to the marketplace. As a working professional, multi-tasking mom and avid athlete, I wanted products that could seamlessly fit into my busy lifestyle. After speaking to countless customers, it was clear that they too wanted the same: tools that are functional without forsaking style, utility without excess.
But what truly crystalized this vision was an unexpected turning point: our daughter's battle with a life-threatening illness. During the months of her hospitalization, I was blown away by how she took on the biggest fight of her life. Instead of wallowing in the situation, she managed to find joy every day in the most challenging time of her life.
This made me realize the transformative power of finding big joy in small moments.
" It's not just about creating functional and stylish products; it's about infusing every product with the essence of joy and optimism. This is now the core of our mission: to spread small joys every day through well-designed, sustainably-made products that fit seamlessly into your busy lifestyle."
How? Making good design accessible for everyone by translating it into useful, delightful everyday goods. This is the soul of MAIKA, where luxury meets everyday life, and where every day becomes a playground for spreading small joys.
Viola Sutanto
Founder + Designer
Tory Burch Fellow
The Design
Every bag combines simple, functional design with perfect everyday details. All the patterns are original artwork from the studio. Every single pattern or print you see in the line is hand-painted or illustrated in-house in Oakland, California. From sketch to stitch, we create each piece with love and delight.
The Name
MAIKA means "dancing flower." Because who doesn't love a beautiful bloom?
The Founder
Viola Sutanto, Founder + Designer
Tory Burch Fellow 2020
I consider myself truly blessed to do what I love. everyday. Coming from a long line of entrepreneurs in my family, I always knew I wanted to own my own creative business. However, like many things in life, it took a few detours before MAIKA was born.
A business degree from Haas School of Business at the UC Berkeley, followed by a stint in banking, and a serendipitous series of events resulted in acceptance at the design program at the California College of the Arts. Upon graduation, I continued to hone my craft in the fashion industry and later, some of the premier boutique design firms in the Bay Area.
Hailing from a family business of luxury bags, I have a lifelong appreciation of the beauty and quality of high-end craftsmanship and materials, but the price points of these beautiful goods felt elusive to me, and many other working women. I saw a need for beautifully designed, well-made everyday bags from sustainable materials and sought to fill that gap in the market with the launch of MAIKA.
I have been fortunate to have my work recognized by the Today Show, Real Simple, O magazine, and numerous blogs and publications. I authored my first book, “Packaging Your Crafts” published by Lark Crafts. Inspired by a series of personal challenges and the courage of my daughter, Maika, my second book “Eat Cake and 99 Other Small Acts of Happiness” won the Benjamin Franklin Gold medal Award in 2022.
