WARSAW, POLAND (September 12, 2025) — What happens when a data analyst with a Ph.D. in literature turns her attention from 3D imaging and data to artistry? At Intiaro, where upholstery fabric samples fuel stunning 3D product visualization for furniture e-commerce, one team member is quietly reshaping the narrative around textile waste—one handmade pillow at a time.
Marta Maska, a data analyst for Intiaro, has taken upcycling to new heights by handcrafting pillows, tote bags, zippered pouches, and even dog beds from upholstery fabric samples. These samples sent by luxury furniture manufacturers are essential to a core offering at Intiaro: 3D product visualizations that capture the tactile essence of each piece. Once digitally processed, however, the physical textiles often sit dormant in storage, their beautiful designs, rich colors and textures filed away in archival stacks.
But for Maska, those textiles hold meaning far beyond their digital afterlife.
“I started noticing the shelves filling with gorgeous fabric samples that were no longer needed after digitalization,” Maska explains. “It felt like such a waste to let them gather dust and eventually be disposed of, so I decided to make something with them—even though I had never sewn anything before.”
Maska, who holds a doctorate in literature with a concentration in Japanese art and culture, saw beauty, art and craft in those fabrics. Though she had never sewn before embarking on this project, her academic background and artistic perspective gave her a unique lens through which to see potential.
Using a 40-year-old sewing machine originally purchased by her mother during communist-era Poland—a time when non-essential goods were rare and often bought on impulse—Maska has handcrafted over 100 items this past year. All of them have been donated to community centers or gifted to someone in need of a smile.
“If you understand about Polish culture, you know it is not so easy to make people smile. The pillows and nice fabrics can bring a smile,” Maska said.
“Marta embodies the kind of innovation we pursue with passion at Intiaro,” said co-founder and Chief Commercial Officer Michal Stachowski. “Her creativity and initiative fit well with the broader industry priorities around sustainability and community impact—and it’s deeply personal. That’s the kind of passion that resonates, both internally and with our partners.”
