MaeMaePaperie

“L.A. Chinatown, what we were wearing, and the feel of the place.”

A yellow sweater and white pants for her, a green-stripped shirt and khaki pants for him; Chinese lanterns, paper umbrellas, cast iron pieces, reds and yellows. Sometimes the most simplistic and seemingly obscure things can induce a flood of creativity; in this case a business and career.

These were the sources of inspiration behind Megan Gonzalez’s own wedding invitation which kick started the formation of MaeMae Paperie just two years ago. After this burst of inspiration from her engagement photo shoot in Chinatown, Gonzalez began designing her very own customized wedding invitation to make her and her husband’s wedding experience as unique as they are. It wasn’t until Gonzalez’s father suggested she design for other brides, that the idea for MaeMae Paperie arrived. MaeMae Paperie produces customized stationery that can capture an individual’s personal style or the feel of an event.

MaeMae, meaning “little sister” in Chinese, is a nickname that has followed Gonzalez throughout her life. It only seemed fitting that the name of her business reflect the “support and encouragement” of those who fondly know her as MaeMae.

With a name selected and overflowing motivation, Gonzalez set out on Facebook to find her first clients. Ironically, for someone who vowed never to work in front of a computer, Gonzalez now spends up to 12 hours on a computer each day designing custom and fashionable stationery and announcements for the world, whether it be for a bride, a friend, a special event, or maybe even you.

A graduate of Biola University, Gonzalez originally wanted to become a fashion photographer. However, it wasn’t long before graphic design, specifically typography, drew her in, and she came to realize that this was the “source of so many visual elements [she had] always been drawn to.” Her love of paper, print design, and a vast array of unique color combinations opened the door to a world of ingenuity.

MaeMae Paperie deviates from the traditional, fairy-tale style used by most reputable custom stationers and instead takes a modernized approach. Her products exude bold graphics, saturated with color. She utilizes many of her own computer drawn illustrations and pays great attention to type.

Although she has access to letterpress sources, she specifically works with flat printing, setting her apart from her competitors by providing one of the most affordable custom stationery design services in California. By choosing cost effective printers, Gonzalez is able to offer her customers beautiful and unique products for less money without compromising quality.

While Gonzalez is helping her clients cut back on spending their green, she is simultaneously helping Mother Earth to stay green. Everything she produces and prints is either made of cotton or recycled paper. Recycling package stuffing and boxes, using scrap paper, and printing with eco-friendly ink are some of the ways she strives to cut back in an industry that demands an extensive amount of materials.

Gonzalez’s down to earth and personable style enables her to connect with her clients and get a feel for their creative vision. She is always on the lookout for any source of inspiration that can be used or filed away for later. “When you are constantly creating, I don’t think you ever take a break from inventorying everything you see.” Book covers, movies, fashion, music, photographs, and even sports magazines can often spark an idea for her next project.

She especially loves taking someone’s story, just as she did for her wedding invitation, and creating a design theme around it. “Richness to design is so important to me.” Working with wedding stationery allows Gonzalez to design in series, producing more than just one piece, something she is especially fond of. She is currently working on a signature bridal line that revolves around such themes as the circus, koi fish, and Marie Antoinette. Eventually, Gonzalez would like to expand beyond traditional wedding stationery, redefining the process to include fun packaging and beautiful paper products.

“I am always looking for inspiration and love to find what source material is behind other people's beautiful work. I hope that my work provides a fire and yearning to make, do, or be something good.”

Whether it be a special event, a rainy afternoon, or even the very fabric upon our skin, Megan Gonzalez reminds us that there is beauty in everything, drawing upon her senses to not only create, but to inspire others in the process. Unique individuals and their stories deserve products as unique as they are, and luckily for the world, it seems as though MaeMae Paperie won’t be running out of inspiration any time soon.