About Maria Loyd

Maria Loyd is an artisan and designer living in Jim Thorpe, Pennsylvania, known for her environmentally sustainable and socially conscious fashion. She creates distinctive products using recycled and natural materials, including leather treated with plant-based dyes, vegetable oils, and traditional Colombian textiles, which she incorporates into stylish, contemporary footwear and fashion accessories.

Giving Back to the Community

Maria believes in using her success to give back. Through her "Giving Back" campaign, she donates a percentage of her profits to support indigenous schools in Colombia and schools in need worldwide, including projects like "Operation Rebuild Nepal." She also works with Don Wild Eagle and John Thorpe, champions for Native Peoples' rights in North America, and allocates a percentage of her business profits to support American Aboriginal schools.

Maria’s passion for education and social responsibility extends beyond donations. She organizes seminars for indigenous Kuna youth in Colombia, teaching them survival skills, financial planning, and overcoming obstacles.

Supporting Local Initiatives

Maria has also contributed significantly to community programs in Jim Thorpe, Pennsylvania, including:
✔ The Red Campaign (which she founded) to support the elderly
✔ The Burn Camp Program for children traumatized by fire incidents
✔ The Pocono Wild Animals Hospital
✔ The Jim Thorpe High School History Club & Cyber Bullying Prevention Program
✔ The Foster Kids Life Skills Seminar
✔ The Reading Program at Dominick Memorial Library
✔ Entrepreneur Student Program (which she founded) to motivate young women to become future business leaders

Maria’s Unique Fashion & Craftsmanship

Maria’s brand slogan is "The Evolution of Native Fashion." Her designs celebrate South American culture and indigenous artistry. Under her private label Mabacol, she offers:
✔ Rice-soled coffee bean shoes
✔ 'Vegan' cactus leather handbags
✔ Handcrafted jewelry from cantaloupe and açaí seeds, eucalyptus leaves, preserved orange peels, flower petals, and tree sap resins
✔ Playful backpacks, wallets, and more

Her work has been featured in major media outlets, including TV Channel 69, Harrisburg TV 21 News, Green Philly Media, and Pocono Radio 96.7. She has also been showcased in international art & trade shows in Milan, Berlin, and Paris.

A Life Shaped by Hardship and Resilience

Maria’s success story was not an easy journey. She grew up parentless in Colombia, often surviving on weekly rations of cheese and bread. Her life changed when the Colombian government enrolled her in a special handmade crafts program created by First Lady Dr. Graciela de Samper in the 1960s. This initiative taught underprivileged children to express their emotions through art and provided them with skills for self-sufficiency.

At just seven years old, Maria started working and by nine, she was handcrafting art pieces and selling them at art shows. Her talent earned her a spot as one of Colombia’s top ten young artisans, allowing her to showcase her work at national exhibitions.

Despite working during the day, Maria pursued her education at night, earning a diploma in marketing. This gave her the skills to build and sustain her own business, a knowledge she now shares through educational seminars in both Colombia and the U.S.

Building a New Life in the U.S.

In 2004, Maria moved to the United States to escape the dangers of Colombian political unrest. She arrived in New York City with no English skills but soon secured a well-paying job in the fashion industry in Manhattan, where she worked for several years.

Maria later began organizing educational seminars for Spanish-speaking entrepreneurs in the fashion industry and offered business coaching for women in the beauty sector.

Overcoming Adversity & Founding Her Business

In 2014, Maria’s life took an unexpected turn when she suffered a serious back injury in a car accident. Unable to work, she immersed herself in learning about physiotherapy to aid in her recovery. During this time, she realized that finding stylish yet comfortable shoes was difficult, so she began designing her own ergonomic footwear—a project that would become her best-selling shoe line.

After recovering, Maria left New York for Pennsylvania and launched her own business, Artisanal Gifts LLC and the Mabacol label, in 2015 at the Lehigh Valley Mall in Allentown. She later relocated to Jim Thorpe in 2017, where her boutique became one of the town’s most popular stores.

By supporting Maria’s unique handcrafted designs, customers are not just purchasing fashion but also contributing to her humanitarian projects worldwide; a true example of art in service of people.

Maria’s Motto: "Yes! You Can!!!"

Maria's life reads like an inspirational success story, but her achievements came from resilience, determination, and generosity. Her motto, "Yes! You Can!!!", reflects her belief that anyone can overcome hardship and achieve greatness.

Today, Maria continues to empower, educate, and inspire; from indigenous communities in Colombia to aspiring businesswomen across the world.