I am a graphic artist who has been sewing bags all my life  - from those fringed drawstring hippie pouches in the seventies to my own hand-painted fabric totes and sacs today. I have been selling them mainly at fashion, craft and trade shows in Barbados under the "marartwear" label: a collection of hand painted clothing and accessories for the beach. I am inspired by island culture  - the markets, dancers, poems, people, carnivals, sunsets,  hills,  villages and beach life in the Caribbean. Island life not only  influences my paintings but also my choice of hot bright colors.  I use water-based screen-printing inks on 100% cotton/denim.

Each bag is cut, painted and sewn at home.  My greatest nightmare therefore, is to get an order of 100 bags or more.  My next challenge in to produce a high quality hand-painted bag (yes, must be hand-painted  -  that’s my signature) that is stylish and smart enough to take you from the beach to the office and evening out. Mara art-bags have traveled. I am so happy to know that probably everyone in Slovenia (well not really ‘everyone’) carries my bags.  A visitor to the island fell in love with my bags and on two trips bought for all her family and friends.  Imagine Slovenia!  When you live in the islands can you imagine what that means?  People love the colors.