Women You Should Know

Shout Out: Mae Mougin

Photo via maemougin.com

I first met Mae Mougin in the early '90s when I was a young freelance makeup artist. At the time, I worked with her husband, Claude, a well-known French fashion photographer. Claude and I collaborated in New York and on various location shoots. One particular trip with Mae and friends that I will always remember was to an exotic Caribbean island. We were having the time of our lives with a quirky hairdresser, whom I adored, a couple of models (one of whom later became an actress), and some editors. For some reason, I was wearing a blonde wig in most of the photos, and the top hairdresser sported coconuts in his self-made bikini. It was an unforgettable trip.

Flash forward 20-something years...

While shopping in a houseware store in the Hamptons, I fell in love with a ceramic plate that had a slightly vintage look. I ended up buying a few of them. Little did I know that Mae was the potter behind these beautiful pieces. The store owner told Mae that I had purchased them, and she reached out to me.

Since then, our friendship has not only been rekindled, but I have also become an avid collector of her work. I have purchased numerous pieces, including beautiful personalized baby bowls that make perfect gifts. I also have a big stack of plates for my beach house and often buy custom gifts for my three sons featuring their homes. If you couldn’t already tell, I just love her work.

What I particularly love about Mae, aside from her obvious talent, is her mind. She is so curious, so smart, and interested in so many things. She is a supporter and part of the local art scene in the Hamptons and still knows nearly everyone from back in the day. What I find extremely remarkable about her is not only having such a successful pottery business but also her new journey as a student.

Mae has decided to spend a year in the UK, where her son lives, to pursue a Master’s degree in pottery at the Royal College of Art. At 70 years old, she is taking a sabbatical from her business and beginning this solo adventure. I am really proud of her.

How cool is she? With three grown kids and tons of grandkids, she just decided to do this. I say, why not?

Note to self: I better pre-order some more plates, because there’s nothing better than a personalized housewarming present.   

Follow Mae on social media:

IG: @maemougin_porcelain