When I design I strive for beauty and creating a piece that flatters the body. I get a lot of my inspirations from old runway pieces and classic vintage styles. Taking something old and making it new again inspires me the most. I’m able to wear my creations and share them with the world.
– Martha Maruna
Martha Maruna is one of those people who’s timeless beauty and sincerity captures you. She was raised in a small town in Illinois and moved to Kansas City, Missouri to pursue her many passions, some being fashion and floristry.
Martha now juggles her time between repurposing vintage clothing, working at a floral shop, modeling, drinking matcha tea and swooning over her icon, Marilyn Monroe. But among all her enthusiasms, Martha’s interest in styling started at a young age:
“As a young child my mother taught me embroidery by writing quotes, sayings and simple flowers on cloth and having me trace over them. As I got older she taught me hand stitching and then sewing with a machine. My mother also made most of our clothes when when we were young and thankfully it was a skill she had taught me. Sewing is one of the many skills I’m blessed to have been raised doing as it shaped my life and interests.”
Almost all of my clothes are thrifted or vintage. I rarely shop anything new anymore as it bores me to know people all over the world can be wearing the exact same clothes as me – what’s stylish about that?
“When I shop I look for timeless pieces that inspire me. Elegant blouses, oversized sleeves, chunky sweaters, oversized suit jackets, silk dresses and high waisted pants are my staple purchases. The pieces I’ve been looking for lately are silk slip dresses and an oversized leather suit jacket. All things leather this fall.”
While the cost of making your own clothes is often much less than buying in store, it is also more sustainable just as thrifting and repurposing.
“Also the impact new clothing has on our environment drives my passion.
The fashion industry is one of the largest in the world and is also now one of the biggest polluters in the world, the first being oil. The quality of most fast fashion fabrics is very poor – choosing quality over quantity is a must. The term “fast fashion” refers to companies quickly producing cheap pieces of clothing that follow the latest trends. Nothing is made to last and produces mass amount of waste. It’s important to me that I purchase from small companies or second hand. It’s important to repurpose and recycle your old clothing. I encourage everyone to educate themselves on the significant impact fast fashion has on our world.”
I’m driven by the passion of taking my own creations and having them be a physical reality. I love being able to wear my designs and know they’re something I truly love. Instead of trying to find unique styles that someone else is creating I just make what I’m looking for.
Martha recently started selling her own designs. Her style is very classic and simple; vintage with a modern touch. If I could sum up her designs in one way it would be “timeless pieces that one can wear over and over and style multiple ways.”
You can follow Martha on instagram at @marthaevemaruna and @marthaevedesigns.
