It is with both clarity and sadness to share that we are closing Ma Wovens after six beautiful years.
I launched Ma with a small team at the end of 2019, after years of product and supply chain development. Running a company was something I’d never done before, but it was a lifelong dream, born out of creativity, curiosity, and a deep belief in the power of everyday ritual.
Over the years, I poured myself into this work through all the challenges and triumphs that came with building something from the ground up. But the truth is, the trials have taken their toll. Earlier this year, I received a rare blood cancer diagnosis that became a breaking point — a clear and sobering reminder that my health and healing must come first. After much reflection, I’ve made the decision to let Ma Wovens and The Ritual Rug rest.
It’s not a decision made lightly. I had big dreams and so much passion for this company and for a long time, that passion alone kept it alive through countless difficulties. I’ve wrestled with feelings of grief and failure, but as I look back, I see there’s far more to be proud of than regret. What began as a simple idea grew into something far greater: a brand built with intention, a product that touched people’s daily lives, and a community rooted in care, mindfulness, and craft.
The Story of Ma
The idea for The Ritual Rug came to me in 2015 while at a yoga teacher training in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. It was July (hot, humid, and intense) and after hours of daily practice in the jungle heat, I found myself once again slipping out of downward dog, my hands and feet drenched in sweat. Suddenly, a thought struck me: what if this mat were woven with fiber? The vision appeared so clearly in my mind. Surrounded by the color and texture of handwoven Mexican textiles, I knew there was a way to make it real. When I returned home, I bought a loom and started prototyping.
By the summer of 2017, I had a working prototype that I’d sweated on, tested, and refined. I then set out to build a supply chain from scratch, traveling to China to source materials and to India to sit with master weavers and fine-tune the design. That era remains one of my favorite chapters of the Ma story. I loved seeing firsthand where things came from and how they were made. There was a tangible excitement in those early days — in me, in the people who gathered around the vision, and in the product itself. I found incredible mentors, investors, and eventually a small team to help bring the dream to life.
When we officially launched in late 2019, I never could have imagined what was coming next. Just a few months later, the world shut down. We started strong, riding the early wave of excitement when suddenly our manufacturers in India were forced to close.Suddenly, we had no product in the pipeline, and I faced my first major crisis as a founder. That moment marked the beginning of the constant hurdle-jumping that comes with running a small business. The stress was immense, and over time, it became the norm. I had no idea then how much it would eventually affect my mental, emotional, and physical health.
Letting Go
The Ritual Rug was created to be an invitation — a mat you want to step onto every day, even if only for ten minutes of rest or reconnection. It was designed to bring a sense of grounding and beauty into ordinary moments. But as I encouraged others to slow down, I was doing the opposite, running on empty and trying to sustain a company through endless challenges. My own life had drifted far from the values Ma stood for: presence, balance, and care.
When I was diagnosed with cancer, it was the wake-up call I couldn’t ignore. Illness, I’ve learned, isn’t just the body breaking down — it’s the body speaking up, telling you that something is deeply out of balance. So, I stopped. I listened. And I began the long process of healing. Over the past year, as I’ve undergone treatment, I’ve had the space to really look at my life, at the pace, the pressure, and the ways I pushed myself far beyond what was sustainable. For years, I believed that if I just worked harder, I could keep it all afloat. But healing has shown me a different truth: sometimes the most courageous act is to let go.
I’m incredibly proud of what my team and I built, and profoundly grateful for the community that formed around this special product and brand. I’ve learned so much ... lessons I’ll carry with me always. As my mentor reminds me, there are no mistakes, only lessons.
As I turn my focus toward healing, I carry with me everything Ma has taught me about resilience, creativity, and the art of slowing down. This may be the end of Ma Wovens, but it’s also the beginning of a new chapter — one rooted, as always, in care, intention, and gratitude.
Thank you to everyone who supported Ma. It’s been an honor and a joy to create something that’s found its way into so many homes and hearts.
xoxo
Kelly Peyton
