Maya Penn

Maya Penn is a 24 year old award-winning environmentalist, eco-fashion designer, founder, artist, animator, 3 time TEDTalk speaker, and author. She started her own global sustainable fashion brand called Maya’s Ideas in 2008 when she was 8 years old. She has been working in sustainable fashion for 16 years. In partnership with head Coach designer Stuart Vevers, Maya collaborated on a fully circular and sustainable Coach gown that she wore in attendance to the 2023 Met Gala. She was named one of the best dressed by the Council of Fashion Designers of America. Maya was a key player in the launch of Coach’s new circular innovation lab and Gen Z focused sustainable sub-brand Coachtopia

Maya made waves on the January 2023 Cover of Vogue showcasing her own eco-fashion designs alongside Billie Eilish. Maya and her designs have also been seen in Forbes, Nylon Magazine, Marie Claire, Elle UK and more. Maya is certified by University of Cambridge Business School in Circular Economies and Sustainable Strategies. Maya has been a worldwide speaker for over a decade, and is 3 time TEDTalks speaker speaking at schools from Atlanta, Georgia, US to Narok County, Kenya with talks that have been translated into over 100 languages and used in curriculum around the world. Maya has received a commendation from President Barack Obama for outstanding achievement in environmental stewardship and being an animator and filmmaker, Maya made history at 16 years old during the Obama administration when she was commissioned to create an animated film for the opening of the first ever digital report presented to congress, which was to get an American museum of Women’s History built in Washington. Maya was awarded the Coretta Scott King A.N.G.E.L. Award, as well as honored the SCLC Drum Major for Justice Award. Through her own nonprofit Maya's Ideas 4 The Planet she has launched humanitarian and sustainability initiatives in the US, Haiti, Senegal, Somalia, and Cameroon. Maya is a founding board member of sustainable fashion nonprofit The Revival based in Accra, Ghana.