Crocheting Away Student Debt
New York City based designer Mariah Reeves is on a mission to crochet away her student debt, one row at a time. “I learned how to crochet from my grandma,” Mariah said of the childhood hobby turned side-hustle, “I stopped for a long time, since I work full time, but when the pandemic hit I was furloughed and had more time on my hands.” The pandemic gave Mariah the opportunity to develop what is now MARVES new york, a black and Latina owned fiber arts brand handcrafting unique and wearable art.
Inspired by her grandmother’s bold sense of style, MARVES new york is both colorful yet chic. “Through my modern aesthetic and passion for art, I try to keep this family tradition alive and just as cool and stylish as she was. Every creation is a harmonious blend of color, texture, and form, each handmade stitch weaves a unique story. An homage not only to my grandmother, but to crochet as a rich and diverse artform,” Mariah writes on her about page.
The brand is best known for its scrappy bucket hats and iconic checkered beanies. Taking the scraps from one project to upcycle into another has become a crucial part of MARVES new york and their commitment to sustainability and style. “I make the same checkered beanies over and over, but the upcycled ones are all one of a kind,” Mariah said of the distinction between her two best selling styles.
Designed to be worn by anyone and everyone, each item is intentionally unisex, both as an homage to Mariah’s personal style and in response to a gap in the market. “When crochet became super trendy, I would have friends flood me with crochet images they thought would inspire me, however a lot those styles, although cute, didn’t fit my personality. That pushed me to create a space for myself that seemed to resonate with others who may have been looking for the same thing or felt the same way (surprisingly a lot of those customers were men... with a great sense of style),” she said of her crochet journey.
Building a crochet brand comes with its challenges, one of which has been debunking crochet myths and assumptions. “There may be stereotypes surrounding crochet, for instance that it can be dated or that it’s a feminine craft, but in reality, this craft is a genderless art form that can be reworked and modernized to fit different styles. Fashion is so fluid in this day and age, and crochet is no different,” she said of her take on modern-day crochet. As with any challenge, this has also created a rare opportunity for Mariah to find her brand’s unique style.
As the brand has grown, both on and offline, Mariah has admitted that her brand isn’t for everyone. “I can’t be for everyone, so I don’t try to be,” she said of her commitment to creating pieces she can be proud of, regardless of changes in consumer demand. “I’m one person making everything by hand and the people who follow me and like my products, those are my people.” Mariah has found that not only do her people share her sense of style, they also appreciate her craft and are willing to pay for it. “I know what my time and skillset is worth and so do my customers.”
Finding and growing an online community isn’t easy, but Mariah has continued to share her story on her terms. “Most of the time when I’m crocheting, I’m sitting on the couch, watching 90 day fiancé with no make up on,” she said of her not so glamorous set-up. Instead of creating content that feels disingenuous, Mariah instead focuses on making beautiful products that speak for themselves.
Four years, hundreds of hours watching reality TV, and many bucket hats later, Mariah has paid off over $10,000 of student debt. A feat any aspiring designer can admire, and one her grandmother would be very proud of.