Family Connections x Marta Kukularova

I’m Marta and, as the granddaughter of the brand's namesake and inspiration, Marcella, I helped start the brand before embarking on my long-term professional career. I now work mainly as a musician – as an opera singer and harpist. Designer Siyana Huszar is my sister.

Our grandmother was an incredibly strong woman who lived in Bulgaria and helped to raise Siyana and me. She was smart, creative and brave. A natural entrepreneur committed to becoming a prominent designer in her native country despite challenging circumstances, nothing could stop her from achieving her dream (even the then-communist regime). 

Marcella started on Etsy as a hobby but also a way to achieve financial independence for the women in my family, including my sister, my mother and me. Being an entrepreneur is really hard but very freeing. I saw Marcella grow from an idea discussed at the kitchen table, to when we had just one seamstress making everything we sold on Etsy to what it is today, with hundreds of people inside and outside involved in the company's work. It feels so rewarding and almost unbelievable. 

My grandmother and my parents bought me a piano when I was six years old and the rest is history. I preferred the piano to math or history and was pretty much glued to the piano after school! I then also started playing the harp and was singing in a choir as a kid. Music has always been at the center of my life. 

I find fashion and music to be very similar. Both are filled with emotion and involve a creative process. Both are art in my opinion. The outfit that I wear on stage is part of the performance. 

Timeless and non-trendy.

Aria Dress is my favorite. I love it because it's very unique and sophisticated.