Meet Sylvia Hill
Sylvia Hill isn't your typical luxury brand founder. She's a mum from the Gold Coast who spotted a gap in the market and filled it with something genuinely useful. Mayde's European-made towels solve a problem every beach-going family knows: how do you pack light without sacrificing comfort?
But Mayde has become more than just smart beach towels and stunning bath towels for the coastal inspired life. The brand represents a particular approach to luxury, one that's practical, sustainable, and deeply connected to real life. Each towel is crafted by European artisans using traditional techniques, proving that you can have both quality and functionality without compromise.
What makes Sylvia's journey compelling isn't just the product she's created, but how she's built the business. She's managed to grow Mayde while staying present for her children's milestones, proving that success doesn't require sacrificing what matters most. Her honesty about the realities of running a business while parenting feels refreshing in an industry that often demands perfection.
From her studio overlooking Currumbin Beach, Sylvia has built something that speaks to wanderers, families, and anyone who is drawn to beautiful, functional essentials that support a lifestyle lived well. It's this grounded approach to business and life that drew us to her story, because sometimes the most revolutionary thing you can do is simply make something better.
The Conversation
Q: With European summer in full swing, what's your ultimate destination for sun, sea, and relaxation?
A: Well, I haven't been there yet, but it's on my bucket list to visit the coast of Croatia. Every time I see photos or videos of Dubrovnik or Split, I just swoon. I visited and loved Santorini and Capri as a 21-year-old, so I'd love to go there and re-experience it all over again, too.
Q: What's always in your suitcase for a European summer getaway?
A: At least three pairs of swimmers, good SPF, my favourite cap, jewellery, and a Mayde Noosa towel.
Q: How does your self-care routine change when you're travelling? Any beauty or wellness must-haves?
A: I swear by roll-on lavender oil. I started using it on a trip to NYC about eight years ago, to help with jet lag, and haven't stopped using it since! Otherwise, I keep it very simple. Light natural oils, moisturiser, and I never leave home without at least two tubes of lip balm.
Q: Mayde towels feel like the ultimate travel companion… was creating a product for travel and summer escapes always part of your vision?
A: Originally, Mayde was created with Australian beach life in mind. I was thinking especially of mums who have to pack what feels like everything for a day out with the kids. Lightweight towels just made sense as an alternative to bulky ones that take forever to dry. But it quickly became clear that these towels were also the perfect travel companion. Hand on heart, I take one in my carry-on every time I fly long-distance. They've come in handy more times than I can count. When I've been cold on a flight, during long stopovers, or even when visiting more culturally sensitive places where I've used one as a head covering. They're honestly so versatile.
Q: What's been the most rewarding part of building a brand that celebrates slow living, craftsmanship, and travel?
A: Having the time to watch my kids grow while still experiencing all the little moments with them has been incredibly special. Building a brand is one thing, but doing it while raising kids, which is an even bigger commitment, has made the journey all the more meaningful. I'm so grateful to have been able to dedicate time to both, making sure they all grow stronger in their own way. Beyond that, one of the things I value most is the relationships we've built with other small businesses. The shared insights, the quiet support during tougher times, and the genuine celebrations of each other's wins have been so important, not just for the business, but on a personal level too.
Q: As a mother and founder, how do you create balance between family adventures and the demands of running a business?
A: Balance?! Ha! I'm not sure that really exists! But honestly, what's worked for us is being clear and honest about where our time is needed most in any given moment. Sometimes, the business has to take the front seat, and that's okay, as long as everything at home is lined up and supported. Other times, the business has to take a back seat so we can focus fully on family, and that's okay too. It took a while to let go of the guilt that can come with those choices, but I've learned to tune that out and focus on what's right in front of me. What's been most important is showing our kids that while hard work brings rewards, work also isn't everything. And maybe that's what balance actually looks like.
Q: Do you have any tips for travelling with kids that make it feel more effortless (or at least a little easier)?
A: Just pack the iPad. Haha. Honestly, long journeys are part of the adventure, so it's important that the kids feel like they can enjoy the trip in their own way, just like we do. I know there's a lot of debate around screens, but there's also a time and place to let that go, and for us, travel days are one of them. That said, once we're on the ground, the screens get packed away, and it's all about opening their eyes and absorbing the real world around them.
Q: A European summer scent you can't get enough of?
A: Ooh, I am a fiend for a good scent… European specific, it would have to be the scent of food being chargrilled by the water, mixed with the scent of sunscreen and sea spray, and more specifically, at sunset.
Q: A beach or resort that feels like home?
A: After growing up in Sydney, then moving as an adult to the Gold Coast, I still pinch myself daily that Currumbin Beach is my local. You can't beat the Alley.
Q: What's a piece of advice or mantra that keeps you centred in business, motherhood, or life?
A: 'Will it matter in 100 years?' I used to say it a lot when we were facing challenges within the business, and it always grounded me, because the answer was always 'no'. But I use it throughout life, too. It reminds you that life is short and problems that seem huge at the time, one day won't even matter, so it's important not to let those moments take unnecessary bandwidth in your head. Gotta protect that mental health!
Q: Can you share a glimpse of what's on the horizon for you and Mayde as we look ahead to 2025?
A: For me personally, there are a lot of changes. I've started doing interior design outside of Mayde, which is a passion I decided to chase, but just so happens to pair back nicely with Mayde too. For Mayde, we'll keep bringing in the towels and products we love, developing relationships with collaborators we respect (like Sontse!), and really just enjoying the ride that small business is!
Thoughts from Sontse
Wrapping up our chat with Sylvia, her willingness to admit that "balance" might not actually exist feels like a gift to every working parent reading this.
Her journey reminds us that building something meaningful doesn't require perfection, it requires presence, authenticity, and the courage to solve problems that actually need solving. And maybe that's what real success looks like: creating something that makes life a little better while staying true to who you are and what matters most.
Tonight, as you wind down from your day, perhaps wrapping yourself in something soft after your shower or applying your sunless tan as part of your weekly ritual, remember Sylvia's words about protecting your mental health and focusing in on what's right in front of you. Because how you choose to care for yourself, and how you choose to glow, are both acts of presence in a world that's constantly pulling us elsewhere.
Need to put these lessons into practice? Top up on your sunless tanning essentials today.
Looking for more inspiration? Read our past Golden Hour Chats with Rhiannon Karcoushka, Lorna Murray, Maku Fenaroli and Dr Alice Rudd.
Written By Liana Pantalone — Beauty & Skincare Copywriter at Climbing Vine Co.
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