Mandy Marie Berry

With a background in clothing construction and a love for for unique fabrics and style, Mandy Marie Berry set out to create the independent clothing line, Mandy Marapu. With big dreams and a courageous heart, she travelled across the islands of Indonesia, sourcing handmade fabrics from the local markets of remote villages throughout the country. Once she obtained the fabrics, Mandy Marie Berry brought clothing samples she created back home along with the locally sourced fabrics to a socially responsible factory she found in the city of Denpasar, the capital of Bali. She visited the factory daily, to oversee the production and ensure the quality of her goods. Once back in th US, she got to work promoting her clothing line, selling her products to boutiques, and at art markets and music festivals in several states.

Ms. Berry holds an undergraduate degree in Retailing and Consumer Sciences with a major in Business Administration from the University of Arizona. After graduation, she was chosen for the Merchandising Training Program at JCPenney's home office. As a Trainee, she started in the Allocation department where she learned principals of inventory management and the skills to ensure adequate product presentation throughout the store chain in order to achieve optimal sales. In 2011 Ms. Berry took a position in the Merchandising department at the headquarters of Michaels Stores, Inc. and after 1.5 years earned a promotion to Associate Private Brand Manager for the Kids Activity and Hobby and Kids Art and Education departments. To assist with urgent corporate needs, she was appointed to serve as an interim Assistant Buyer with the Irving, Texas, company.