Feature Friday-Females Who Inspire Us: Martha Suárez

For this week's feature, we are proud to present Martha Suárez! Martha keeps busy by being a mother, bridal fashion designer, entrepreneur, and inspiration to all. Martha's bridal company, named for her, prides itself on making women feel strong and confident while also upholding standards of versatility and sustainability. As if Martha isn't already enough of an inspiration, her bridal fashion pieces being made in a female-ran shop in NYC further demonstrates her commitment to helping women meet their aspirations. We know that you all will love learning about Martha, her story, and her company as much as we did. That's enough from us, let's hear from Martha!

Hi everyone, my name is Martha and I am the founder and creative director of my namesake bridal brand, Martha Suárez. We are a sustainable bridal brand that is creating wedding looks you can wear beyond your wedding day. I launched my company in 2019, inspired by my own, personal story of being a second-time bride. I knew I wanted to do things differently and wear something that represented me and my style, and something I could wear again. Over the years, while designing and making bespoke wedding dresses for clients, they would always say to me “Martha, I would love to wear my wedding dress again.”

All of this inspired me to create functional looks that were special enough for your wedding day but versatile enough to wear again. We are reconstructing the idea of a wedding dress and creating an alternative for brides who believe in sustainability, that way your dress doesn’t sit in a box and live in memories. Instead, you can rewear “the one” well after your wedding day.

My mother has always been my source of inspiration at a personal level. The wonderful, giving and kind mother, friend, and wife she is has definitely set the bar high. Professionally I have to admit I’m so inspired by so many women, whenever I read the journey and the stories of women breaking barriers, starting businesses, walking their truth, being disrupters, I’m so moved and inspired. I admire them all!

Over the years I have taken a piece from an array of women, some who I know like my mother and others who lived long ago. Some are women who I have only read about and some have been teachers and peers that have influenced me through the years.

This question is very personal for me because I have a daughter who is 10 going on 16 haha. What I wish and hope for her and all girls is to have an easier road for them, where being a woman, mother, wife, aren’t the only things that define them. That they can write their story the way they want and not allow society's view of what girls should be, do, or aspire to become hinder their aspirations. However, the most important wish I have for them is that they are able to build an even better, greater and more supportive community of women uplifting and helping each other through careers, motherhood or whatever the challenges of life are.

My proudest moment personally has been becoming a mother it’s taught me so many lessons and sometimes I can’t believe I’m raising little humans.

Professionally it was definitely starting a business and having had the opportunity to present our collection during NY’s Bridal Fashion Week through the CFDA.

My most challenging moment personally was my divorce. It was such a hard moment that I actually didn’t draw or design for 2 years in my spare time. Professionally I was still working as a designer, but I didn’t allow myself to dream or create for that time period. I overcame it through my daughter. I wanted to make her proud of me and show her dreams can come true. As a professional there have been so many, I’d say starting a company while still working full time, raising two kiddos and saving every penny to invest. I’ve overcome some areas by making lists of all my tasks. I have to visualize everything and I’ve had to become more organized.

I’ve had to learn wellness through the years as an adult. Wellness wasn’t part of conversations growing up. Now, wellness is like second nature to me. I take care of my body, how I nourish it, my skin, my mental and physical health. I share this with my kids by eating healthy and being active, doing yoga or breathing exercises when they are feeling jumpy, and the one every kid hates, going to bed early.

I always begin my day by being thankful to my creator. I then start with my skincare routine and work my way down to coffee which is a must. Throughout the day I eat healthy and I keep active my workout of choice is boxing and I do this 5 days a week. My evening routine is just as important. I try to unwind and try my best to go to sleep at a decent time, however, I do my best work at night! I finish up with a nice shower and my night skin routine.

For now, my business keeps me so busy, but I do have a desire and ideas for more business ventures although when it does happen, I would really love to have a co-founder along for the ride!