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.
As a working professional, multi-tasking mom and avid athlete, our founder, Viola wanted tools that could seamlessly fit into her busy lifestyle. Tools that are both functional and stylish. Affordable and not too precious. Her first take: an everyday bag. With over four decades of family experience in the luxury bag business, Viola designed her first MAIKA bag— delightful, hand drawn patterns, thoughtfully designed details and sustainably made.
The rest, as they say, is history. From bags, to travel accessories, and home goods, the MAIKA brand continues to grow today, never losing sight of its core mission of solving everyday challenges with functional, stylish and sustainable goods.
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, I am currently working on my second book (May 2021) “Eat Cake and 99 Other Small Acts of Happiness.”
