Meet the Members of Our Fair Trade Company

Christine

Finance Director

A hobby-loving dog owner (Hi, Reggie!), Christine has tried it all - embroidery, woodworking, accordion, you name it. While her practical side makes numbers a breeze, she says she has an irrational love for zippers that lead to unusable pockets and watches that don’t tell time.

Katie

Digital Brand Manager

With a colorful style and a passion for screen printing and letterpress, Katie wasted no time jazzing up her corner of the office. Originally from the east coast, she loves sand and saltwater, but spending any amount of time outside is what really keeps her happiness levels up. Comfort is key, and she’s rarely found without her office slippers (and during those chilly Chicago winters, even a blanket).

Kayla

Sales and Customer Service Specialist

A creative brain with a cultural soul, Kayla is trying it all. Her southwestern roots have given her a zest for life and a passion for process. She’s done screen printing, woodcuts, film, embroidery, and outsider/intuitive art, and her most interesting secret goal? Starting a all-female Rolling Stones cover band.

April

Sales Manager

Every day, April brings a zest for life and an attitude of enthusiasm to the office – she’s a real mood booster. Her love of quality products with a purpose won’t come as a surprise, but the facts that she lived in South Korea for six years, or is an avid cosplayer, might be a bit unexpected!

Delaney

Fulfillment Manager

Whether she’s enjoying being in nature, or relaxing with a good book (or five!), Delaney knows how to appreciate the simple moments and bring a sense of calm to busy days. She’s also a talented musician who attributes practicing music as another form of meditation in her life. Both in her personal style and at Mata Traders, Delaney loves fashion that carries a story with it as it provides an opportunity to stay connected to her values, creative side, and shared experience of the world.

Nicole

Finance & Operations Specialist

A life-long learner, Nicole knows as much about numbers as she does decadent baked goods - she left the accounting world to study and become a pastry chef before she became a mom! She wants women globally to feel as empowered in their career choices, and is passionate about supporting fair trade operations. Paris might be her favorite city, but she’s no stranger to the great outdoors away from the urban bustle, and this respect for the environment informs her appreciation for natural materials in her own personal style.

Jacob

Fulfillment Manager

With all the time he spends outdoors training for marathons, he’d like to convince you he’s not always alfresco. Jacob prefers spending his time organizing, tidying and creating spaces that are more functional for the intended users. If you are anywhere in his vicinity, you’ll often hear his roaring giggle. He’s a teller of tales – just make sure you have more than 5 minutes to listen to those stories.

Maureen

Founder + Creative Director

You’d never guess that the founder of Mata studied filmmaking in college (fun fact: she made a documentary about people who freeze-dry their pets posthumously). Maureen displayed a knack for business since her very first lemonade stand, where she mastered the upsell with $.50 twizzler straws. A fascination with the way people, cultures, and religions work kept her seeing adventure around the world, but these days she loves nothing more than an afternoon at the park with her husband and young son.

Our team extends beyond the walls of our Chicago warehouse all the way to India and Nepal,where over 1,000 talented artisans bring our designs from concept to collection.
You can learn more about who they are on our blog.