A former human rights lawyer and executive secretary of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of South Africa, Paul van Zyl took a slight career turn in 2010 (though he is still a law professor in New York and Singapore), when he co-founded luxury fashion brand Maiyet. The company focuses on incorporating artisanal skills and promoting local entrepreneurship for its lines of clothing, jewelry, and accessories, working with craftspeople across the globe on its collections. Here, he shares with Alexandra Champalimaud how he finds artisans, the meaning behind Maiyet, and how he hopes to continue to improve the world.
You were a human rights lawyer in South Africa. Why did you choose fashion as your platform?
There are a tremendous number of parallels between my previous career in law and what we now do here at Maiyet. At the core is trying to find people who don’t have the same kinds of opportunities available that we do and trying to give them greater opportunity and greater dignity. We have been able to partner with people who are at the bottom of the economic pyramid, but who possess extraordinary and rare skills and a deep sense of creativity and passion.
Maiyet is a word derived from the Egyptian goddess Ma’at. Why did you choose this name for the brand?
Ma’at was responsible for creating justice and harmony. Maiyet actively embraces and develops the skills of global artisans to promote prosperity, sustainability, and dignity throughout the world, so Ma’at is an apt symbol to represent this vision to realize a virtuous cycle of prosperity and dignity.

You partnered with Warby Parker on a special collection that debuted this fall. Do you plan to collaborate with other companies that share the same business model for helping those in need?
Our collaboration with Warby Parker is a reflection of our shared commitment to beautiful design and social entrepreneurship. We were thrilled to find a partner that shares our values and our founding principles, and a fellow brand that breaks the mold, improves the world, and creates desire all at the same time. We very much intend to partner with other like minds on future initiatives.
How do you find and commission artisans around the world?
With a goal to identify our initial artisan partners, Maiyet began with a round-the-world sourcing trip. We want to find and elevate the next generation of global artisans, whether they’re in Indonesia, Peru, Mongolia, Kenya, or India, and to harness their skills in a way that is relevant and applicable to the modern luxury fashion market. 

What’s next for Maiyet?

Most immediately, we are working on a unique supply-chain initiative and have recently launched FAIR Mongolian Cashmere, which is the only certified, ethical, and environmentally sustainable cashmere yarn in the world. In the larger context, fashion can be an incredible instrument for sustainable development and with Maiyet, we seek to prove that we can make beautiful collections while honoring heritage and promoting prosperity. Our deep commitment to achieve a positive outcome in the world is the foundation from which we hope to continue building and growing a socially conscious community.
