Meet Mae of LOOM Imports
Mae Link is the founder of LOOM Imports and co-founder of Crafted Path Travel.
Mae is a seasoned guide and cultural connector with over 20 years of experience leading adventure travel, wilderness education, and off-the-beaten-path trips around the world. Her work with indigenous communities through guiding and NGO efforts sparked a deep respect for traditional handmade art practices, natural materials, and ethical commerce. All of these experiences have shaped Mae’s work with LOOM Imports for years, and now, have provided the inspiration and foundation for Crafted Path Travel.
What inspired you to start LOOM imports?
After studying geography and international studies in college- I was interested in working in the fields of NGO/International Aid and Sustainable Development. However, I found that by starting LOOM I’d be able to have a direct impact on individuals and their communities through providing stable, well paying jobs. Promoting and preserving traditional crafts and handmade production techniques was also something I’ve been passionate about, so it’s been a great overlap.
Have you always loved to travel? When did you start traveling regularly?
I traveled extensively with my family growing up, and we hosted exchange students and international guests often. This network of friends and exposure to different cultures lead me to pursue longer stays starting in high school as an exchange student in the mountains of Spain, then spending semesters abroad in Argentina and France in college.
After that, travel became almost a lifestyle. For 7 summers I worked with an adventure travel company, running many of their international programs for high school students which blended community service, camping expeditions and cultural immersion homestays. In between, I filled my time with seasonal jobs - ski mountains, farms, white-water rafting - and visits to friends & family scattered in beautiful corners of the world.
In many ways, I’ve spent much of my life with a backpack or duffel bag in tow, chasing opportunities that blend culture, nature, and connection.
Can you tell us about some of your most memorable trips?
Ooo, that’s such a hard question! They’ve all been memorable in their own way! Even when things don’t go as planned, I’m always in for the adventure. I’ll try not to get carried away, but it’s really hard to pick!
Most recently, a self-guided multi-week whitewater rafting trip through the Grand Canyon was an absolute highlight and something I’ll carry with me for life. I’ve also been lucky to experience trips that feel almost like chapters of my story: scuba diving in Papua New Guinea, mountain biking the White Rim Trail in Utah, tracking orangutans in Borneo, traveling from Colombia, South America to Florida without using fossil fuels, relying instead on sailing, horseback, and biking.
Some of my favorites are tied to family - backpacking with a Eurorail pass through Europe with my Dad for his 50th birthday, road tripping with cousins through Brazil, Uruguay, Portugal and Spain, hiking the Camino de Santiago with my Mom, my partner’s family traditions on Pawleys Island in South Carolina.
And then there are the adventures with friends and work: a 3 week expedition kayaking through Prince William Sound in Alaska, spending the summer at a coffee farm in Colombia, working with the Peruvian and Guatemalan governments highlighting artisans and crafts of Central and South America, and skiing in Japan.
Looking back, my favorite memories always come down to three things: being in beautiful places, sharing good meals, and spending time with people I love - whether that’s friends, family, or new communities I’ve met along the way.
You’ve been traveling to Oaxaca regularly for over a decade. What are some things you love more about the region?
Oaxaca really is the best of so many worlds in my opinion. Food, drink, art, craft, landscape, and of course the people - it has world class traditions in it all! What I love most is that Oaxaca feels so authentic and true to itself. It’s an incredibly welcoming place, and I always find it deeply inspiring.
There’s this beautiful balance there—on one hand, you see centuries-old traditions being preserved and honored, and on the other, you see modern, experimental ideas blending in seamlessly. That mix of history and evolution makes Oaxaca such a rich place to keep returning to—it feels alive, creative, and endlessly inspiring.