Presented by KOTTÉ
Tell us about you and your brand.
I was born and raised in Curaçao, a small island in the Caribbean. I moved to Amsterdam, Netherlands at a young age and was always playing around with objects I found in the yard. I was always creating new things. When I moved to Antwerp to study fashion at the Royal Academy of Fine Arts, my love for and interest in the Caribbean and African cultures grew more and more.
I graduated with a master’s degree and felt that I should continue to spread this Caribbean-inspired aesthetic, which is why I started the womenswear brand Martha, named after my mother’s maiden name. As an Curaçao-born artist, I feel that it is my duty to educate the world about Caribbean culture and spread a positive message. As a brand, we value positive energy and hope to impact the world by promoting freedom and self-expression.
If you could recreate the wardrobe for any film, which one would you choose and why?
I would choose The Devil Wears Prada. It is such an iconic movie, especially when it comes to fashion. However, I think the fashion could use an update—more expressive and creative, showing the limitless possibilities that fashion has to offer.
What has been the most memorable experience of your career?
The most memorable experience of my career was when we hijacked the windows in a store in Antwerp and put our own clothes in their shop windows. I think fashion should be fun and spontaneous.
If you had full financial freedom, what five things you would you do first?
I would put on a fashion show in Paris, open a fashion school in the Caribbean, launch a Martha toy company, start a television series about the Caribbean way of life, and innovate the fashion industry to be more sustainable.
