Words from our Founder

"I started Maison Motema because I believe that true luxury is rooted in intention. Each piece is designed for women moving through the world with confidence, carrying not just what they need, but who they are becoming.

Our bags are imagined in New York and brought to life by master artisans in Senegal, whose craftsmanship, heritage, and hands shape every detail. Through each creation, we honor their work, their stories, and the women who carry them forward. Thank you for being here."

Maison Motema is a women-founded, artisan-centered brand redefining luxury through craft, heritage, and lived experience. Our inspiration flows from African tradition — my own roots — from the bronze-casting ateliers of Senegal to the quiet rituals of everyday elegance.

Maison Motema exists between worlds, Dakar, New York, and Paris as our creative centers, shaping a refined lifestyle where meaning matters as much as beauty.

My vision is to create a future where luxury honors memory, where each piece carries the soul of the hands that shaped it, and where women wear not just adornment, but legacy.

Each bag, each jewel, is more than an object — it is a story of resilience, history reimagined for the present, and a reminder that true luxury is built slowly, with heart — motema.

—Verlaine-Diane Soobroydoo

Founder & Creative Director, Maison Motema

Our Vision

“To honor the artisans who shape our craft, and the women who carry our pieces.”

At Maison Motema, we are building a world where heritage and modernity meet — where African craftsmanship is elevated through slow luxury. We aspire to be a house of legacy, crafting timeless bronze jewelry and leather bags that celebrate individuality, resilience, and the beauty of handmade work.

"Our master artisan at work in the Dakar atelier."

Our Atelier,  Le Savoir-Faire Made in Africa

Maison Motema’s pieces are crafted with intention in Dakar, Senegal, in close collaboration with skilled artisans whose hands carry generations of knowledge.

Each creation is the result of precise gestures, patience, and an intimate understanding of material—where craftsmanship is not rushed, and every detail is honored.

In our Dakar atelier, artisanal excellence is a lived practice, shaped by tradition, mastery, and pride in work done well. Here, creation is both a craft and a legacy—one that connects heritage to contemporary design. Through each piece, we seek to inspire confidence, elegance, and connection to heritage. In 2025, our founder was invited to share Maison Motema’s vision for sustainable luxury with the United Nations Deputy Secretary-General.  Learn more about our sustainability commitments here.