Paris born, with a strong European appreciation for fashion and style, Maria began creating hats for high end boutiques in Canada and the U.S. in the early 1990’s. The popularity of her designs led to the opening of her own store, Le Chapeau Rouge, in Calgary in 1990. She shifted her attention to wholesale in the late 1990’s, providing hats to over 15 stores across Canada and the U.S. Maria is a graduate of Interior Design from Mount Royal University as well as a graduate of The Alberta College of Art and Design.