"Goodwill Hunting" - Getting Real with Maya Dahlgreen of MAYA MEYER

Maya wearing a piece from our LongSummerHours collaboration.

We went out for martinis with Maya Dahlgreen of MAYA MEYER (MM) following the launch of our capsule collection “LongSummerHours” earlier this Summer. After a few drinks at San Simon, here’s what we captured of the ever-earnest Maya we so adore and admire.

What was your childhood like? How did you grow up?

So, I'm an only child. My Mom is an accountant and my Dad worked for the forest service. Whenever my Dad and I went to the grocery store, he would bring his own bags, the Fred Meyer plastic bags to re-use them. It was so embarrassing at the time – I didn't realize he was just ahead of his time and how cool he really was. And my Mom, I mean, she is the one who taught me to sew. She made all of my Halloween costumes, she made all the pillows on our couches, she made our curtains, tablecloths and once she even made a slipcover for our couch. She had this book my dad and I always made fun of her for because it was called, “I CAN’T BELIEVE IT’S A SLIPCOVER” -- even though we made fun of her it was pretty impressive.

She was a CPA by day but very creative by night. There was always some sort of art going on around the house, whether projects or music like Bob Dylan and Joni Mitchell – so I mean, this paints a bit of a picture of my childhood. 

When I was 13 or so, I remember she asked me if I’d like to learn to sew because I was into fashion. She took me to the store, we picked a pattern but I wasn’t interested once it all came down to it and she ended up doing it all. But around 16, I came to her and I was like, I have an idea of a dress I’d like to make in my head and I refused to use a pattern. I can still picture this dress in my head, it was really thick ivory material and really similar to the stuff that I make now actually. There was a band at the top, strapless of course with a giant bow. So I made this thing, then I just got into making random things. It was so weird. 

A family photo of The Dahlgreens, including Auntie!

What inspired your style as a kid? 

I had an Aunt Chris, and she lived in Portland, I spent a week with her every Summer and she would call it quality “Auntie” time. Her kids were quite a bit older than I was and I think she just really loved our time together. She would take me to Goodwill, and we would call it “Goodwill Hunting” another aspect of my youth that has really influenced my life and MM. We would go and she would teach me how to look for cashmere sweaters and nice blazers – I would always come home from this week with Aunt Chris and have so much shit. My mom would say, like oh my god, she has to stop taking you to Goodwill!

Jacq of FOUND and Maya of MAYA MEYER modeling LongSummerHours.

Give us a day in the life of young Maya? When did you feel most creative?

I was such a boring kid, such a good kid. What comes to mind are memories I have as a five-year-old. Like the fairy house building days. You know, like me and my best friend Allie Bangs, she had an orchard and creek behind her house. We would just be outside all of the time building fairy houses. Those were all the memories I had when I felt most creative in childhood before I started sewing. 

90’s Family Portrait.

What was it like being into fashion + art in a rural area (in Washington State)? 

Well, I do remember this time when the popular girl, her name was Laura, her name was not Maya. So around that time, I was discovering Urban Outfitters and fashion magazines I got a bunch of new school clothes and came to school and she was like, “Oh My Gawd, you are the only one who could pull off all that weird stuff.” I realized then that nothing I do is ever going to be for everyone, some people are going to hate it and I look like a freak while others are going to be really into it.

70’s Auntie Kris.

How do you go about your daily life now, post-COVID and leaving your corporate job to focus on MM?

So this whole MM thing started because I didn't have my commute anymore. I’d leave for work at six in the morning and get home late in the evening. Then COVID happened and I didn't have to go to the office anymore. When five rolled around, after a certain point I was like, this isn’t fun anymore – you can only have so much wine and TV that early in the evening. I was bored and I always had a bunch of clothes – I was cleaning things out, I told myself I’m not going to take these to Buffalo and make $20 so I made a website and called it “Maya Meyer” because I thought it was a good name for a shop and also because I thought it was funny to use my husband's name for a business but not take it in real life. 

Then I started making things, though my original goal wasn't that clear at that point. I started selling things and things got a little out of hand, I would work my nine to five and then work late into the evening. 

We then permanently moved to Bend from Portland and I left my work at Nike to focus on MM. I have to sew something every day or the world is just not right to me, otherwise, I flow creatively with posting to social media, taking photos, designing, sourcing and curating fabric to work with. 

BTS of LongSummerHours Capsule Collection worn by Shelby Timms.

How do you derive inspiration?

Honestly, shopping inspires me. I still love to go vintage shopping, even though I don’t really buy stuff like I used to. I enjoy really old things, like vintage dresses. My Sweet Pea mini dress is a recreation of a handmade dress I found. I mean walks don’t really inspire me, they reset me, I need them but when I’m outside I’m not thinking about what my next dress should be.

And you know what else inspires me? Movies. I was thinking about doing a whole collection of the films I’ve been watching. 

But in regards to fashion, I really got into people who were into fashion like Bill Cunningham an old fashion photographer who said fashion is the armor to survive the realities of everyday life. And I was like, oh my goodness, I completely related to this, I feel like fashion and style have energy that if done with personal creativity and touch can deflect anything. It’s like, if I have a good look, come for me I don’t care, I look good, I can do this day. 

A screenshot of MAYA MEYER’s ig - 2022 Summer Drop drop and inspo.

What is your long-term vision for MM?

The most important thing for me is to stick to sustainability. So however much I grow, whatever I can do, however big of a reach I have, I want to be sustainable. I would also like to expand my relationships with stores, working with them is so much fun. I love seeing shop owners get excited about something I do every day, when someone else shows their interest it gives me the energy to continue my work. And of course, just building those strong, long-term connections to customers who keep coming back – this is what truly inspires me – so that's the future.


FOUND's Guide to a Sustainable Summer

Summer is in full swing with its’ endless sunny days here in Bend, Oregon. The early morning light and those warm summer nights offer crisp teal skies for the birds. FOUND is here to help you get the most out of your Bend summer - with Circularity top-of-mind. Read below for our 7 Hot Tips for Summertime Eco-Tourism.

Cool River Dips On Those Hot Days

FIRST STREET RAPIDS With the abundance of late spring storms, the Deschutes River is rushing with snow melt. There are plenty of spots to take a dip but our personal favorite is our Adopt-a-Trail located at First Street Rapids. Year long, FOUND takes care of this sweet meandering path by cleaning up trash and keeping it tidy for folks to enjoy. Find a rock, bring your summer read or intention setting journal and enjoy the meditative sound of rushing white rapids that puts you in your own little bubble. (And feel free to pick up any litter or trash to help us Trail Adopters out!)

EASY RIVER STYLING While the sun beams from above FOUND has got your easy river styling. Hand Made wide brim straw hats to shade your face, now in two styles - La Ranchera and the classic Straw Boater. Looking for something more casual? Try the Minga Summer Bucket Hat, our staff’s personal favorite. They’re handmade and each one has a unique fit - make sure to try them all on when you’re in the shop! Don’t worry about it losing its shape when traveling either, it packs down easily so you can bring it on all of your summer ventures.

ECO-ACCESSORIES Dampen the glare with Wooden Element sunnies - in three handmade styles. Find your favorite and wear ‘em dawn til dusk. Lightweight, versatile and sustainably made. And finally, what’s on our feet all summer long? Mohinders of course! The perfect river shoe with a one of a kind feel. Scope our foolproof fit and break in tips and Find your ideal style + eco-dye combo.

Zero-Waste Picnic-ing

ZERO-WASTE PICNIC Who doesn’t love snacking in the shade under broad pine and juniper trees? Sunlight trickling down through the pine needles and a cool breeze flowing through makes for a relaxing afternoon to be enjoyed solo or with loved ones. FOUND is here to sustainably outfit your picnic musings with an assortment of vintage blankets, a bamboo travel cutlery kit, a variety of beeswax wraps and vintage woven baskets for an easy pack-in and pack-out.

Location ideas: Drake Park is a quick jaunt from our shop downtown Bend, Oregon and perfect for an easy picnic spread. Spanning the mirror pond on the Deschutes, you’ll Find it to be a relaxing afternoon with a view. Find your favorite tree and spread out your blanket and indulge! Just be mindful of the geese. If you’re looking for an easy picnic get-away, try Sparks Lake off of the Cascade Lake's Highway. You’ll get a scenic drive, a picnic with a view and optional cold water dips pre- and post-meal.

FAREWELL (BEND) COLD BREW Chilled refreshments are a must! Try brewing your own Cold Brew with Farewell Roaster’s newest roast; Look Alive! With notes of caramel, cocoa nibs and zesty tangerine - this full bodied, medium roast lends itself beautifully for a home made cold brew that will surely scratch your iced coffee itch. Grind the beans coarsely, toss them in a cloth bag (pro-tip: our reusable cloth baggies are perfect for this), suspend it into a jar and run cold water through the beans until the jar is filled. Tie off the bag and cover the jar with a beeswax wrap or lid, and place in the refrigerator for 12-24 hours.

SUNNY LOOSE LEAF TEA If coffee isn’t your jam, brew some sun tea using Anima Mundi’s loose leaf tea tonics, our personal favorite is Calm Tea. It tastes like a sweet breath of fresh air and is delicious served chilled. Just fill your Brass Tea Strainer with leaves, run room temp water through it filling a jar, gently cover it and set it outside in direct sunlight for 6-12 hours. Sweeten it up with a dash of local Mangrove Honey and snack on some Ayurvedic chocolate for a sweet finish.

DASH OF SALT With sweet comes the savory, and we think everything’s better with a dash of salt. FOUND is stocked with Jacobsen’s Sea Salt flakes and infusions harvested on the Oregon coast line. Toss a travel salt tin into your basket for an easy on-the-go garnish or venture into the variety of infused salts - garlic, white truffle, black garlic and habanero! Our personal favorite combo at the moment you ask? A ripe and sweet summer melon (of choice) sprinkled with habanero salt and a dash of lime. It’s sweet, salty, spicy and zesty - don’t knock it til you try it!

Wherever your summer musings take you, remember to tread lightly and always leave it better than you Found it. 💚


The Gateway of Summer Solstice

wild flowers lupine

The Wild Rose and Wild Iris, the Lupin, and Indian Paintbrush. 

Tuesday we entered through the gateway of Summer Solstice, the most sunlight we will receive than any other time this year. We welcome the sun's nourishment with wild river dips and deep forest strolls

Reflecting upon Spring, in our sweet high desert home of Bend, Oregon, we have welcomed an exceptional amount of rainfall and are all witnessing the plant life flourishing, exuding bright greens and open-faced flowers attracting pollinators. 

From the dormancy of Winter, flora and fauna have transformed and burst into the light this Spring, we as well reflect on all of the changes we have experienced, from immense challenges to the blessings of love and community.

The theme we are putting forward for the season ahead at FOUND is an ode to the nourishment of life, we set an intention to nurture ourselves and receive the sustenance that brings us to our vital energy and joy. We carve out time to feel the sunlight softly warming our skin, sit basking in the meadow of freshly bloomed wildflowers, and dip our toes in the refreshing snowmelt rushing down from mountain tops. 

Sweetly and softly, we nourish our bodies + minds + spirits with nature and all of the offerings from our intentional community of makers.

pilot butte bend oregon hikes

HIKE Pilot Butte is one of our North Star strolls. During sunset, walk the path or push the stroller up the paved option to take in the perspective of the mountain range from Mt. Bachelor, The Three Sisters, to Mount Hood. 

For those life-giving temples, we have curated some of our most tried and true rituals to support your inner being-ness. We have one meditation below and a handful of our products that feel well-suited to this season.

MEDITATION Annie offers profound and nervous system soothing meditations to experience– like Meditation for Hormone Balance + Mental Clarity, Vagal Nerve, and Epigenetic Healing. Consider taking this meditation on a hike with yourself the next time you have an extra hour and need a little reprieve - consider listening to a mediation while walking to stimulate your left-right brain.

Heal with You - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCpeLI1Kr1DE2_cjLtIFUnMQ

moon spells book

READ Learn to harness the magic of the moon for your manifestation practices. We have a few in stock but these went fast last time!

body oils

BODY & BATHING OILS Daily self-massage with our go-to, Amulette Studios’ AS ABOVE, SO BELOW supporting your grounding - release into a deeper sense of calm + well-being throughout the day. 

meditation cushions

SELF-CARE PRODUCTS Ethel Studios has been with us since day one and we adore their zero-waste meditation cushions and eye pillows. We even carry their larger rest easy packs to use on your check or really anywhere.

journal in english and spanish

INTENTION JOURNAL A methodical, daily affirmation journal to reflect intentions as you move along your path. Available in both Spanish and English.

crystal healing sound kit

SOUND therapy can come in all shapes and sizes and this one fits into the palm of your hand. Come try it at the shop and see if you can resist this radiating tool for self-healing.

perfume oils

SCENTS can make or break a moment and these make it. Unisex perfume oils with vetiver, pine, sandalwood and lottsa trees.

To Know FOUND is to

Understand we’re a different kind of shop, we’re offering our community something special, unique, and eclectic.

Our Business Purpose is to

Sustain a healthy, comfortable lifestyle and creative ecosystem for our Founder, the FOUND Team, and the Many Makers held inside.

Our Mission is to

Change minds and the world for the better.