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Maiden America is a Pro-Parent /Pro-Childhood Company.

About Us

Maiden America hand crafts high quality, UNBEATABLE "Non-Slip" Barrettes and women's Limited Edition Handbags.  We're currently looking to do a "makeover" and "re-launch" (so parts of our site are a bit messy at the moment).  We hope to add more American and Handmade products and that you will email us with your ideas!

American Made

We are passionate about supporting high quality goods made right here, in America.   We love that we are able to have a higher degree of control over quality and service while helping our local economy.  Maiden America has always worked to provide flexible job opportunities for moms, military wives and others.   We do not  use toxic glues or take "shortcuts" in manufacturing our unique, handmade products.

 

With three daughters and degrees in both Journalism and Fashion Design, Tristan Benz created Maiden America as a "vehicle" to inspire and empower parents. 

What's behind a name?

When my daughter asked about the ‘waists’ on her ‘princess’ lunchbox, I found myself explaining  how truly sorry I felt for those poor princesses – how they HAD to spend huge amounts of time in the mirror trying to be pretty all the time -  yanking on corsets, eating poorly, fainting all the time and spending every waking moment trying so hard for princes (because they weren’t allowed to go to school or own property or do a lot of great things we now can)!  

I found myself telling them, Maidens are “everyday princesses” with the freedom to learn, work, earn and do SO much more.  How fortunate we are to be maidens!  How sorry we feel for the princesses! :-) 

 

Thanks for your Patronage!

Thank you for buying our products and for telling your friends. Maiden America grows thanks to the support of those seeking quality, age-appropriate products for...well, not children anymore (due to CPSIA) - DOGS and humans ages 13+!   We thank each and every person who actively contributes to our success! 

If you'd like to join our growing mailing list, we welcome you to subscribe!  Members get advanced notice of sales, special offers, automatic entry in our monthly prize drawings / giveaways and more.

Maiden America - unbeatable non slip hair barrettes

I started Maiden America out of concerns about childhood and our childrens' future.

Personal experience has reinforced what my father used to say, "Man stands for a long time with his mouth open, waiting for a roasted chicken to fly in!" 

There is no doubt that, if we want to see a better world, it comes at a price.  Recently, I put myself out there - I antied up!  You can find my videos and blog posts re: CPSIA legislation on my personal blogs (it has caused me to get quite political...ugh!).

The more I 'get out there' and take action, the more I'm convinced that our political correctness and avoidance of healthy debate top the list of concerns to tackle, on behalf of our children.  If we really believe in promoting tolerance and diversity, it's my view that we owe it to our children to do away with political correctness and fight for freedom of expression - to practice civility in debate and involve ourselves, as citizens, toward the running of our marketplace, schools and country (just to name a few).  Ultimately, if we can teach our children, by our own example, how to get involved and make a difference, we will offer them a great gift for what is their future to inherit..

One of my greatest concerns is something I believe is on the rise in our culture - the undermining of parental authority.  What features on my growing list (besides CPSIA that is - sadly, Mother Approved has officially been replaced by "Big Brother Approved" - see hearings with expert testimony here)?

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  • Marketers promoting anti-authority / anti-parent values as well as adult-themed fashions / products to our children
  • Rise of childhood obesity (with growing poverty in childhood)
  • Increasing amounts of t.v. / video games kids are exposed to at younger and younger ages.
  • How much more time children now spend shopping than in any unstructured play.* *see Juliet Schor's book Born To Buy and her site New Dream Org.
  • Safety in our schools (including the many faces of bullying - it's not just boys).
  • Rise of Ritalin and other drugs - potential long-term effects (including at school / on society).
  • A concern that we are leaving our children with more problems than were left to us - while teaching them to test (I'm not opposed to testing, but let's focus the bulk of our time on learning to think independently, problem-solve, plug in and get involved, as empowered, connected and proactive citizens / leaders (can't we use better leaders?!).

I believe all these issues (and more) are connected.  It may sound counter-intuitive, but my concerns and desire to make a difference are what drive this business. I'm passionate about inspiring parents to learn about the tactics used by marketers and others that prey upon our children and to use their dollars to change what's being "sold" to us us "on behalf of our children."  After all, the buck [should] stop with parents - the final authorty.

By connecting and working in solidarity; by putting actions to our shared concerns on the front burners in our home - these are the way we will effect meaningful change, on behalf of OUR children and their future.

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Warm Regards,

Tristan Benz