About MARA

Hola! My name is Marangelys or Mara. I am the creator and designer of MARA AMAR. I am an eco-friendly fashion designer that was born in Puerto Rico (Boriken) and raised in Alabama. Being from these two places has inspired my fashion creativity and designs. The connections Puerto Rico has with Africa you can see blossom in my work for a reason. I am getting back into my roots, sewing seeds into the community, and building a foundation through repurposed fashion, art, and education. Every piece I create has meaning and a purpose.
Everything I do is with a purpose. I am created with a purpose just like you!

I am also a graduate from The University of Alabama where I received my Bachelor’s degree in Human Environmental Sciences with a concentration in Apparel and Textile design. At The U of A is where I learned more than just fashion construction, but about fast fashion, slow fashion, and sustainability. All because one of my professors, Mrs. Chelsea W., told us to watch a documentary called The True Cost. This documentary changed my life and lead me to create my brand with purpose, intention, sustainability, education, and amor. To my professor from UA, thank you for inspiring me. You sewed a seed in me that has blossomed into my dream business. I sure hope you're still dreaming and creating with a purpose too. Thank you for making a difference.

MARA AMAR  stands for Make Art Repurpose All To Love.                                                                                                                                                      MARA AMAR is an eco-friendly fashion and educational company.

The reason I created my brand is because the fast fashion industry causes pollution on the planet, most garment workers who make our clothes are affected by it mentally and physically, and the fashion industry needs a circular economy. So, it’s my mission to change the fashion industry by preventing fashion from getting into the landfills, hurting the planet, and the people in it such as those in BIPOC communities. My goal is to create unique, wearable art out of used clothing, secondhand fabrics, unconventional items, and fabric scraps. Also, it my passion to teach people how to repurpose with a PURPOSE through my monthly fashion and art classes and creative community group events starting soon!

Part of my calling is to
- Teach people how to upcycle fashion, learn English as a Second Language, and Spanish too!
- Help the planet by preventing fashion waste from getting into the landfills.
- Support small businesses and entrepreneurs.
- Give back to the community in the Chattahoochee Valley and all the way to Puerto Rico.
- Start a Fashion Revolution.
- Recycle, ReLOVE, & RePURPOSE all that I can!
- Repeat!
I cannot make a difference in the fashion industry AND in the community alone, but together WE can make a difference!

Relearn. Reduce. Reuse. Recycle. Repair. ReLOVE. Repurpose with me & shop MARA AMAR ♥

Photographers:

Storm Jackson, IG: @eyeofstormj (black&white photos)

Mr. Craig Graves, The University of Alabama, CHES @ua_hes | Fashion for Life fashion show pictures

Models: Chloe S., IG: @atlantaamira

T’nya Owens, IG: @nyabaddaxs

Yetunde Damilola, IG: @nottherealye

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