We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Mary Imaj. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Mary below.
Mary, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Do you wish you had waited to pursue your creative career or do you wish you had started sooner?
I truly believe everything aligned just as it should have. My dream was never to be a “creative” or “designer”. This came about during my Freshman year of college as I navigated my own style post-Catholic school life. Designing started during COVID-19 when I was sent home and had nothing but time on my hands. Scrolling through Pinterest, I fell in love with puffer material and created my signature bag INDIGO, my first love. I truly think that starting sooner wouldn’t have been fun or I would be forced to create because everything came right on time. The placement of the start of my career has been God sent. I am so grateful to have found this new love. I wouldn’t change anything, I released everything on how I felt and at this time as I am getting back into it, I look forward to regaining the confidence to release pieces just because I love them.
As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?
IMAJ, the name is in memory of my mother Jami Jackson. She is forever my fashion icon and I fell in love with this industry through coincidence. I think deep down I would love it, but my dream was to change the lives of children through mentorship and daily living skills. I now want to combine my love for fashion and kids by one day creating my foundation for 7 – 17-year-olds to learn to live with Freedom to figure themselves out with guidance, security, and pure imagination. I currently design bags, shoes and earrings with hopes of expanding to children’s wear. My INDIGO bag is my first design and the one that solidifies community the most to me. Anyone who owns a tote bag is initiated into the family the moment they lock eyes with another member. IMAJ is for everyone, from babies to grandparents and gives all individuals a sense of familiarity and a light. A piece from me is a confidence boost and instantly sets you apart from everyone else. There is no other IMAJ. I am most proud of my willingness to connect with all the souls who own a piece, no matter near or far. Graduating from college pulled me away for a few but as of 2025, I have never felt more connected to myself and look forward to sharing my thoughts and dreams. Mary Imaj now, Mary Imaj forever.
What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?
I have never felt so seen and loved by strangers before. I am 23 years old and have lost both my parents and grandparents. I feel so alone at times raising myself in this world. My customers are my family. The ones who root for me through the good and the ugly. My biggest support system and I just continue to share my life with them through my art.
Is there something you think non-creatives will struggle to understand about your journey as a creative?
This is the one livelihood where you will never get to rest. There is no “clocking out” for me. I think about IMAJ at my day job and even when I am supposed to be resting, but I wouldn’t change a thing. No matter what happens in your life, if you have the thought, bring it to light. I have had so many million-dollar ideas that were placed into the minds of others because I didn’t move when God told me to. Being creative isn’t on you, it’s in you. It makes others uncomfortable but I have met the most amazing individuals by never feeling like I belong to one “group”.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://maryimaj.co
- Instagram: maryimajco
Image Credits
Image in Tie ( @stacks.photography )