Latest News

Richmond’s Vedanshi Vala, executive director and cofounder of BOLT Safety supports women in need of temporary refuge.

Photo by Richmond Sentinel

Richmond entrepreneur focused on giving back

By Matthew Cheung

Published 10:26 PDT, Fri April 14, 2023

—

Vedanshi Vala has received numerous recognitions (nominated for YWCA Women of Distinction Awards and the Surrey Board of Trade’s Top 25 Under 25 award) as a gifted young entrepreneur in her business career and as a volunteer community leader. The UBC student, was raised in Richmond and graduated from Hugh McRoberts Secondary School. As founder of MAZE Jewelry, a local jewelry production, Vala focuses on a brand that strives to create simplistic pieces that are custom made to fit the wearer’s style while providing customers with an exceptional customer experience.

“I was raised in an Indian family where your jewelry was often a heartfelt gift from loved ones or to celebrate important life milestones. Similarly, I want other people to feel cherished, which was one of my motivating reasons for founding my jewelry brand MAZE” says Vala, founder of MAZE Jewelry.

“My vision for MAZE is to celebrate each person who wears the brand. Moreover, in a world that needs to be ever conscious of the perils of fast fashion, MAZE takes things slow: pieces are made-to-order, tailored to the wearer’s unique sizing. This not only ensures that excess waste is minimized, but is inclusive of diverse body sizes, and personal preferences. The concept of bespoke fashion has existed in India for millennia, and I’m thrilled to bring that experience here."

For every sale that MAZE Jewelry makes, 20 per cent of the sales are donated to Covenant House, a non-profit organization that supports homelessness through meals, housing, mental health, and substance-use programs.

“I’m excited to be able to translate this passion for giving back to my community through MAZE’s strong philanthropic commitment to support Covenant House’s work to provide unparalleled love and support to young people in crisis” says Vala.

MAZE designs offer necklaces, bracelets, and rings which are all custom made to the customer’s fit and liking. Each piece of jewelry is designed to maintain balance while pushing past the boundaries of basic jewelry designing.

“The design choices behind each piece dances between maintaining balance and throwing all the design rules out the window. I also wanted to retain a signature look and feel for the brand’s designs, so I chose to make pieces using a variety of combinations and permutations so similar to motifs. I wanted pieces to look unique, flattering, and elegant,” says Vala.

The MAZE Team is made up of a group of young students who all have the same goal of producing a brand that creates slow fashion and reduces the excess waste that a normal brand may produce.

“The MAZE team has come together pretty organically, the nice thing about being in school is that you’re always finding people who have the same energy as you,” says Vala. “Our family at MAZE, from the leadership to the creative talent to brand ambassadors – all of us are young students. I think that when young people have something they believe in, that balance becomes very possible as they prioritize the things that matter to them.”

Working alongside Vedanshi Vala is Shanaya Virk, the chief marketing officer of the company, who aims to give anyone that comes across the brand an unforgettable experience. Virk is also a co-founder of Calypso, an event organized by young adults passionate about music, supporting women who have been diagnosed with breast or gynaecological cancer, in hopes of brightening their path throughout life.

“My co-founder and I wanted to create an event that inspired the city of Mumbai. The two of us were heavily in tune with our love for music, and we wanted to share that with like-minded individuals. Our youth are incredibly talented and showcase that talent and genuine love for music through Calypso. I’m happy to bring this passion for young people creating art that gives back to the MAZE brand”, says Virk.

Vala’s contributions to the community continues as the executive director and co-founder of BOLT Safety Society (a
federally registered not-for-profit organization) who launched several programs one of which is “Safe Hubs”. Partnering with local businesses they provide safe places where victims of domestic violence can seek temporary refuge. Together they are trying to end violence, harassment, and abuse in communities through their digital platform.

Vala will be heading to New York as a representative of BOLT Safety to discuss the important role technology faces in improving women’s safety.

“This year, I will be representing BOLT Safety at the Commission on the Status of Women at UN headquarters in New York to be part of a global conversation on the role of technology in improving women's safety.

For more information about MAZE Jewelry, visit mazebyvala.square.site.