Our Story

In 2020, I was in Thailand walking through the Night market. It was here, in the Chang Mai, where it all began…

The idea of creating a gorgeous collection, that was both hopeful and affordable, came to life. I want our products to positively impact people and the planet across every step of their journey. My inspiration comes from travel, well-being, nature, minimalist and current movements. We use beautiful plating, semi-precious stones and interesting metal textures to create our collections.

 

Gift giving has been a passion of mine since I was little, I use to always want to create something for a friend or someone who maybe have been kind to me. Either it was buying nice bits and creating hampers, or finding a useful gift in the moment. I am not ashamed to admit it I used to try find discount codes for items and make my own hampers. In conclusion, they had all the amazing bits plus more but at fraction of the price. I love giving gifts that have meaning and multiple uses as I believe there is so much waste in the world and I wanted to gift an item that would be sustainable and beautiful.

 

A few months before I found the collection, I lost our unborn child I wanted to keep a memory of an unborn child we lost. To keep her legacy alive, I wanted to bring something beautiful into this world as I am sure she would have been. So, this is for all the mother’s that may have lost a child and are still battling with grieve/guilt.   Mia Handmade Collection has helped and collaborated with some small businesses around the world to help bring a aesthetic collection.

Today, MIA turns 5 April 2025
What started as a simple idea—handmade bracelets on Etsy during lockdown—has grown into a full-blown movement of creativity, community, and courage.

In April 2020, while the world stood still, I started making and selling bracelets from my living room. The sound of my first sale notification? Unmatched. It gave me a rush of endorphins I’ll never forget. I’d pack each order with love, dreaming of what this could become. Within that first year, we sold 2,000–3,000 bracelets annually, and more importantly, we became the sole income for our family artisans in Thailand, keeping their business alive through COVID

In 2022, I got married. MIA was thriving on Etsy and my own shop, and I made a bold decision—I left my full-time job in banking. No backup plan. Just belief.

2023 was wild—in the best way. I traveled the world for my honeymoon in January. By March, I had my first ever pop-up, and it was an instant hit. That was the start of a whirlwind pop-up journey:
✨ Hey Gorgeous in Harrow
✨ The Solo Craft Fair in Central London
✨ Westfield Stratford, a total fluke-turned-blessing when I filled in for a last-minute cancellation.

Westfield became home for a while. But just as I was 8 months pregnant, thinking I could slow down… Etsy and TikTok Shop banned me overnight. No warning. No answers. Just automated replies. I was exhausted, heavily pregnant, and heartbroken—but I let it go to protect my peace and focus on my baby.

Then, God opened another door: Westfield offered me a permanent space.

April 2024, my baby boy was born—at the same time our house was being renovated. Chaos everywhere. Stock in boxes, my hormones doing the most. But we pushed through. With the support of my incredible team, we kept going.

6 months later, I found out I was pregnant again. Still exhausted, still recovering. Sadly, in January, we miscarried. It broke me. But I held on. We moved into our new home—half unpacked—but slowly rebuilding, day by day.

Today, I don’t have to return to a 9-5. My baby is in nursery, and I get to do what I love, on my terms.

To everyone who’s been part of this journey—whether you bought a bracelet, shared a post, or simply believed in me—thank you. You made this possible.

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And I want to say a special thank you...

To God first – without the belief I carry inside me, none of this would be possible.
To my husband, for always supporting me, building my workspace, and helping me stay organised.
To my parents and brothers, who show up at pop-ups, help behind the scenes, and do so much more than I could ever put into words.
To my best friend Sheena, my sounding board, my sanity check, and my hype woman—you elevate everything I do.
To my amazing suppliers around the world, thank you for trusting me and delivering excellence every time.
To those who believed in me—suppliers, customers, pop-up organisers—you are the reason I’m still standing.
To the creators who inspired me, especially Nikita by Nikki, and to my coach Laura Liles, who unknowingly pushed me forward when I needed it most.

Here’s to 5 years of MIA, and to the magic still to come.
With all my love,
Payal x