This week, Emirates Woman speaks to Ana Canadas, founder of contemporary handbag label MAKETTE inspired by the Bauhaus systems and the precision of Japanese basketry.
Welcome to the Emirates Woman weekly series ‘How I got my job as…’ where we speak to some incredible entrepreneurs and businesswomen both based in the UAE and globally to find out about their career paths that led them to where they are now; what their daily routines look like; the advice they’d give to those starting out; and the hurdles they’ve had to overcome.
With almost two decades inside the luxury industry across Europe and the Middle East, Canadas understood the quiet gap between aesthetic and practicality. Her career placed her close to the mechanics of craftsmanship, design, and product, which ultimately created a desire to create objects that move with the woman carrying them. Here, Canadas shares her career journey plus, the beginnings of creating MAKETTE.
What was your favourite subject at school?
I’ve always been drawn to art, design, and history: subjects that taught me to see the world differently. Growing up, creativity was everywhere: my father with his photography, my mother with her writing. I would spend hours painting from my father’s images, exploring light, shadow, and colour, trying to understand why some forms linger in memory while others fade. That curiosity, that desire to decode how people experience beauty, has stayed with me, and it’s at the heart of everything I create.
What was your first job?
I started as a freelance stylist and art director during my studies, working with independent magazines. It was a world of endless problem-solving: telling a story visually with limited resources, yet making it meaningful. Even before that, as a teenager, I worked in retail to fund my own darkroom, developing photographs by hand. That hands-on making taught me patience, precision, and the thrill of creating something from nothing: lessons I carry into every MAKETTE piece.
What eventually brought you to Dubai?
I came to Dubai in 2016 to launch a digital luxury platform. I’d never been before, but the challenge of building something new, shaping it from the ground up, was irresistible. I thought I’d stay two years… Almost a decade later, I’m still here, inspired by a city that blends innovation, ambition, and design sensibility. Dubai allowed me to see opportunities not just as a designer, but as a builder of experiences and brands.
What inspired you to enter the accessories space and launch MAKETTE?
The idea behind MAKETTE came from observation and curiosity: while fashion changes seasonally, function often doesn’t. Bags, in particular, rarely evolve to meet modern lives. I wanted to design objects that truly move with us: practical, beautiful, intelligent. Leather goods felt like the perfect medium: tangible, enduring, and capable of storytelling through craftsmanship. On a personal level, I grew up collecting vintage jewellery with my mother, pieces that carried memory and character. MAKETTE handbags are built in that spirit: companions for daily life, thoughtful, structured, and human.
What are the key elements of your role?
I’m involved in every step: brand strategy, product development, supplier and manufacturing partnerships, pricing, and launching across e-commerce, content, and communications. It’s a mix of creativity and execution, imagination and structure. Running a lean team means I stay close to the details while keeping sight of the bigger vision: designing products that are relevant, functional, and truly connect with people’s lives.
Talk us through your daily routine.
My mornings are sacred: quiet moments before the world begins. I wake with Pepper, my dog, around 7am, have breakfast, and dive into research: products, runway shows, industry insights. Observing, learning, and questioning are part of my rhythm: it fuels curiosity and ideas. The office day begins at 8:30 with a team huddle, then flows through design reviews, supplier conversations, and strategic planning. Every day is structured, yet alive with creative problem-solving the pulse of building a brand that matters.
What advice do you have for anyone looking to follow in the same footsteps?
Commitment, patience, and resilience are everything. Working with suppliers, production timelines, and markets is messy, unpredictable, and full of lessons. Learn the fundamentals, costing, margins, and supply chains, because creativity without structure cannot scale. Immerse yourself in the world: visit factories, attend trade fairs, ask questions, and build relationships. Listen to consumers, observe their needs, and let those insights guide your decisions. Innovation is meaningful only when it solves a real problem.
What are the design pillars that define MAKETTE as a brand?
MAKETTE is about the intersection of beauty, function, and longevity. Inspired by architecture and Bauhaus thinking, every design considers how a person moves through her day. Our pieces carry what matters: laptops, notebooks, and essentials without compromising form. We design for lives in motion, creating objects that integrate naturally, that feel effortless but are meticulously considered. The goal is to offer value that lasts, beyond fleeting trends.
What are the hero styles?
Study 01 introduces The Patina, The Curve, and The Strata. Each explores scale and proportion, built around a shared curved base that defines MAKETTE’s design language. The Patina is our anchor: a spacious tote with a removable clutch, engineered for everyday life. The Curve and The Strata offer medium and compact solutions, keeping architectural clarity at every size. Together, they form the foundation of a brand built on purpose and thoughtfulness.
What is the best piece of advice you ever received?
Never narrow yourself too early. Cultivating both your creative instincts and your analytical understanding allows your vision to flourish in the real world. This balance has guided every decision I’ve made, from design to business strategy, and it’s what I hope to share with anyone beginning their own journey. Nurturing creativity and embracing new ideas gives us the freedom to build worlds where we can truly explore who we are and who we aspire to become.
And the worst?
That you should wait until you feel ready. I’ve learned that in creativity, readiness doesn’t come from waiting: it comes from doing, experimenting, and refining. Even criticism or negative feedback can be a gift: it helps you see things differently, strengthens your character, and reinforces the importance of believing in yourself. Challenges aren’t roadblocks: they’re opportunities to grow, adapt, and move forward with confidence.
What has been the biggest challenge you had to overcome as a founder?
Building a brand from zero means managing many unseen layers: operational, legal, and structural. The challenge is protecting creative clarity while navigating these realities. It’s demanding, but deeply rewarding when every decision aligns with your values and your vision.
What are your goals for the future?
To keep building brands that are thoughtful, relevant, and design-forward. To return to hands-on creation, painting, jewellery, ceramics, and explore disciplines that inspire curiosity. Long term, I dream of a calm, intentional studio and home with my husband, a space where ideas can breathe and grow. MAKETTE is about designing a life that is purposeful, functional, and beautiful: values I hope to carry forward in everything I do.
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Images: Supplied
Disclaimer : This story is auto aggregated by a computer programme and has not been created or edited by DOWNTHENEWS. Publisher: emirateswoman.com
