Danish entrepreneur Maya Hiort-Soele risked everything to launch her business, Maya Soele, which creates wooden figurines as educational gifts. The idea stemmed from a personal experience in 2021 when she realised the societal bias that values academic education over vocational training.
Photo: Maya Soele.
When her eldest son celebrated his graduation, her younger son, an apprentice mechanic, insisted on wearing his work clothes. This moment of reflection led Hiort-Soele to question why vocational training was often considered less prestigious.
Struggling to find a suitable gift for her son's graduation as a mechanic, she decided to fill the gap in the market. She left her well-paid job, invested her savings, and launched Maya Soele, designing and selling handcrafted wooden figures representing various professions, including mechanics, hairdressers, and nurses.
Inspired by Danish design, the figurines combine elements of Kay Bojesen's wooden figures and Bing & Grøndahl's porcelain collectibles. Each piece is crafted from FSC-certified wood in a BSCI-certified factory in Vietnam, ensuring sustainability and ethical production.
Initially focused on vocational professions, Hiort-Soele expanded her collection to celebrate all educational achievements. She hopes her products will inspire parents, particularly mothers, to support their children's chosen career paths, regardless of whether they pursue academic or vocational education.
By speaking with many master craftsmen, she learned that parental influence, especially from mothers, often discourages young people from entering trades. She aims to challenge this mindset and promote pride in skilled professions.
Through her business, Hiort-Soele seeks to change perceptions, emphasising that all educational paths deserve recognition and respect.
Source: www.wood-supply.dk