What's in my Bag? Interview #2: Maya A.
Opening our bags is like opening the doors to our inner-creative worlds.
Q: What are the non-negotiable items in your bag right now and why can’t you leave the house without them?
Maya: My non-negotiables that I carry with me are my wallet, keys, hair clip, lip gloss/chapstick, phone, AirPods, and lotion.
Q: What is the most special item you carry in your bag and why?
Maya: The most special item I carry in my bag are my keys! My keys are decorated with a lot of keychains, and each of them holds a special memory to me. I try to get a souvenir from every place I travel to, and a lot of them end up being keychains. My favorite is currently a beaded gator I got when I visited New Orleans.
Q: What is your go-to snack to carry in your bag?
Maya: My go-to snack are probably Cuties. I love how refreshing they are in the summer!
Q: Is your bag more for utility or for style?
Maya: My bag is more for style!
Q: What is your favorite bag in your collection OR your dream bag?
Maya: My favorite bag in my collection is my brown suede bag from the brand Noirvere. I love how it goes with every outfit, and I can dress it up or down.
Q: What is your favorite way to accessorize your bag? Or do you prefer to leave it clean and simple?
Maya: I prefer to leave this bag clean and simple, but my goal is to eventually decorate the other bags in my collection. I hope to collect some chic bag charms that complement each bag, since they each are so different from each other.
Q: What is your dream design feature that you wish more bags could have?
Maya: My dream design feature in a bag are zippers! I wish more bags incorporated unique zipper designs. Not only are they super functional, but they can add dimension to the bag itself.
Q: What is an unconventional material you wish more bags were made of?
Maya: I wish more bags were made from materials found in nature. More specifically sea-shells. There is a creator, Paula Votteler, who creates beautiful designs made out of mussel shells. Although unconventional, these bags would add such a fun texture to an outfit.
Q: What is one unrealistic item you wish you could carry in your bag?
Maya: The unrealistic item I would carry in my bag would be a mini cafe that specializes in matcha lattes. I always crave matcha lattes around 3-4pm when most cafes are closed, so this would satisfy all my cravings. There is also nothing worse than paying over $5 for a matcha and it is mostly milk… so having a cafe that specializes specifically in matcha would be perfect!
Q: What is your favorite style of bag?
Maya: My favorite style of bag is a bigger shoulder bag.
Q: Who is your favorite bag designer?
Maya: Coach! If I could buy everything from there I would!
Q: What movie, book, and song are you bringing with you to a deserted island?
Maya: Movie: Jurassic Park, Book: Harry Potter: Prisoner of Azkaban, Song: Jackie and Wilson by Hozier
Q: Who are your style icons?
Maya: Charlotte York, Samantha Jones, and Rachel Green
Q: Which three celebrity closets would you raid?
Maya: Bella Hadid, Emma Chamberlain, Moya
Q: What is an activity/sport/hobby you want to try that you have never tried before?
Maya: Sewing clothes
Q: Seeing as it’s summertime, what’s your favorite summer sweet treat?
Maya: Lemon bars/amaretto ice cream (I can’t choose just one!)
Q: What is your favorite summer activity?
Maya: Tanning by the pool
All about you…
Q: Where do you call home and what do you love most about it?
Maya: I would call Chicago home, even though I was not born there, it is where I feel most fulfilled. My favorite parts of Chicago are the different neighborhoods, the lake walks, and the people of course.
Q: What color do you associate with yourself and why?
Maya: The color I associate with myself is sage green. I would say sage green is my color because I love to be in nature and the color itself is something I have a lot of in my possession.
Q: What activities make for a perfect day and night?
Maya: My perfect day consists of going to the farmers market in the morning, getting a lovely brunch, and tanning by the pool. My perfect night is eating out at a restaurant with my besties, exploring the city, and dancing at a club with our favorite music.
Q: What are your top three films/tv shows/songs?
Maya: My top three tv shows are: Sex and the City, Stranger Things, and Narcos.
Tell us more…
My Instagram is @maya_e_abraham
Currently I am enjoying being graduated from college and the beautiful warm weather in Colorado. My next project is going to be a knitted top! My goal this summer is to be consistent at knitting and continue working on projects.
I work full-time at Anderson Ranch Arts Center and we have our big gala fundraiser coming up, so I am excited to get dressed up for that and continue with our many big events during the summer.
I also have a special trip planned to NYC in September and it will be my first time visiting so I am very excited for that!!
Note from Sullivan: I am so beyond excited to show my bestie around NYC so soon!!
To expand my newsletter’s “what’s in my bag?” segment a little further, I created a questionnaire for my closest friends and family to answer that I have now translated into interviews. The questions may be all about bags, but the answers unlock what makes each of us unique!
We carry all kinds of things in our bags. Our keys, our wallet, our phone… several crumpled receipts from long forgotten shopping sprees… the list goes on. But the most important thing we carry in our bags? Secrets! The secrets to who we are at our very core. These might not be tangible items, but as I like to say, if the eyes are the windows to the soul, than taking a look inside someone’s bag is like unlocking a hidden art gallery where all the exhibits are a piece of that person’s style and personality. While the bag we carry can say a lot about us from the outside, it’s all about what’s inside. Our bags are often filled with the items we can’t be parted from. Just like how we collect memories, we collect little pieces from our adventures and slowly build a puzzle that reflects who we are. Opening our bags is like opening the doors to our inner-creative worlds.
If you enjoyed this interview, please like and share this post, subscribe to my Substack if you haven’t already, and if you would ever want to be interviewed for the segment, please leave a comment below and I’ll get in touch with more details!
Ciao for now,
