Marta Torres / Martania

Marta Torres, known by her brand name Martania, is five feet tall and has bright cotton-candy colored hair.

She's also fond of dreamy, flow-y clothes and has the sweetest personality to match her exterior.

She's not an illustrator, as the last two featured artists were, but a small-scale entrepreneur. Specifically, she makes these awesome, delicate bags that come in (literally) all shapes and colors and sizes. Check them out:









Donuts, watermelon and seashells are only a couple of the designs she works with; all of them creative, all of them portable, and all of them manufactured with the utmost care and love by a team of no more than three craftsmen, from Marta's own house-turned-workshop.

My favorite collection so far:



Pineapples. I love them! Look at the textures, and the delicate finishes, and the contrasts between materials! I especially like the way they all come together to make a statement-- tropical, fun, relaxed. Definitely, definitely my favorite.

Pineapples are a huge theme in Martania's collections-- as are other fruits (see the watermelon above) and cute food in general:

Donuts, apparently, are huge too (pardon the pun). But take a look at the pizza backpack. Isn't it creative? It looks really neat too, and the triangular shape of the bag is particularly innovative. 

If you're not completely buying the alternative shapes and colors, she also has more traditional choices:

Look at the translucent computer bag! And the "Space Backpack" in matching translucent gray and pink. She still doesn't completely conform to the boring, standard black-and-white of traditional design, but instead chooses to keep her essence even within the confines of more serious approach to utility wear.

I've got a couple of her bags back home in El Salvador (the round pineapple one and the bunny eared one), and what I'm most shocked about is how much care goes into making these bags. I mean, just take look at the interiors:

Look at the vivid pattern in the fabric! No one interior has the same design, but they're all popping, electric and usually flower-themed. And she does this for every. Single. One. Of her bags. All of them! Imagine how much care goes into making bags as personalized as possible.

The price range isn't excessive either, especially if you consider the quality and attention to detail of the craftsmanship: they range from $15 (the smaller pouches) to $50 (the larger bags). When I think about how much I'd pay for the same product in a larger locale or chain... Phew. I'll gladly pay whatever price she sets.

Posing a stark contrast to both Sonia Lazo and Douglas Rodas, Martania doesn't really seek to transmit any particular message through her craft; instead, I believe she chooses to be her bold self to the world and have that be her act of protest. 

Because with her "alternative" hair colors and edgy fashion choices, this craftswoman is definitely on the Rad Radar for low-key subversiveness in a mostly male-dominated culture, that emphasizes female beauty exclusively as low-key, quiet and plain.

Unfortunately, Martania doesn't have an Etsy store at the moment, but she can be reached through Facebook or Instagram.

Stay artsy and stay local!

All pictures used here from Martania's Instagram.