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How does a compulsive nomad resist the pressures of getting a ‘real’ job? The solution is to turn your lifestyle into a business. In the case of Debbie Hardy, a life-long fashionista, her creative evolution has come full circle. Born and raised in Jamaica, Debbie made her way to New York to study at the Fashion Institute of Technology. After a stint as a model, she became a stylist for the singer Erykah Badu.
The Badu tours provided a whirlwind glimpse of the world, but as time passed Hardy began to desire a more intimate travel experience. Instinctively she bought a guide book for India, packed a backpack and headed to Asia, solo. Unknowingly, what she thought would be an interesting vacation became a new chapter in her life. “Initially, I was drawn to the colors of India, but nothing could have prepared me for the country. India is gritty, magical, unapologetic, jarring and intense. One week into my journey, I was irrevocably changed. All of my senses were working at a heightened level. The country has gotten under my skin. It keeps calling me back and I keep answering”.
While in India, Debbie began to pick up a few scarves along the way and of course fell in love with the Indian prints that the country is famous for. With her keen eye for style, she quickly realized that she could sell the scarves to a broad clientele. Returning home, the scarves became a hot commodity on the fashion conscious streets of Brooklyn. Investing $10,000 of her own money, the company Martine’s Dream was born. Making use of her fashion education, Debbie soon found herself in India designing and producing a full line of women’s clothing and home furnishings. The ‘global urban’ clothing is graphic, colorful, light-weight and figure forgiving. The home accessories are an extension of the clothing’s versatility, such as bright saris that double as curtains.
The manufacturing process abroad has dealt her more than a few challenges, such as receiving a large shipment of clothing with all the labels sewn on the outside and the red dresses that mysteriously arrived in the color green. “I have learned to stick around until all of my orders are finished, not pay the bill until a full quality check has been conducted and most importantly try not to loose my mind in the process”. In order to keep her overhead low, she maintains a home that doubles as a showroom and summer ‘backyard boutique’. Her designs are also available on her website and at major street fairs throughout the United States.