Maya J developed an early interest in fashion, sketching designs while on set with her makeup artist mother from a young age. Now, she finds herself making her New York Fashion Week debut.

A student of the Fashion Institute of Technology and London College of Fashion, Maya launched her label Amaya after receiving the Amiri Prize, CFDA member Mike Amiri’s fashion incubator program for undiscovered American fashion talent. We got a sneak preview of the label’s NYFW collection before their official show.

How would you describe your label? 

Ayama Studio loves to reinvent classic silhouettes through a modern lens…ooze an everyday appeal while exuding a hint of high-fashion elegance. Showcasing character, quality, and style is always at the forefront for our collection, utilizing fabrics like leather, waterproof recycled Japanese cotton, dainty lace, shearling and pleated organza. Ayama Studio is truly unbound by definition and full of freedom. Every season, we develop our clothes with the approach that they are truly seasonless and timeless.

What does it mean to you to be on the Official NYFW this season?

It’s very surreal. To be given this platform as a small brand for our second collection is really exciting, and we can’t wait to debut all the gorgeous clothes we’ve been developing.

Can you describe your collection inspiration? What should we expect?

This season, we really wanted to take a more feminine approach than ever before. Naturally, as a brand, we fall into a more masculine and gritty sense of dressing and fabric selection. But this season, we wanted to marry our original sensibility with the divine feminine and the softer side for our customer.