Celebrating World Artisan Day: Meet Marie Marthe, A Woman of Grace, Skill, and Strength
This World Artisan Day, we’re honored to introduce you to Marie Marthe, a remarkable woman who sews beauty and hope with each thread used to make the nightgowns you love.
Marthe, Sewing Manager
Marthe comes from Dugue, a rural village in Fond des Blancs, Haiti. Her journey into the world of artisans began in 1999, but her passion for sewing started long before that.
“When I was little, I used to take fabric and make little dolls,” she remembers with a smile.
Taught by her older sister—and sometimes getting scolded for using up materials—Marie Marthe's love for sewing was cemented in childhood. The first real piece she ever made? A white dress with pink trim for her mother. “She wore it all the time. She loved it.”
She sharpened her skills at a three-year vocational school in Miragoâne, where she learned embroidery, sewing, cooking, and art.. That education opened the door to her lifelong journey as an artisan and eventually led her to Haiti Projects.
“I used to work long hours at two different jobs, 8 to 1 in one place, and then 1 to 5 in another,” she says. “Sarah (Haiti Projects founder) saw how hard I was working and offered me a job with more flexibility so I could take care of my kids.” At the time, her children were just 4, 3, and 1 years old. Now, her children are all adults, having successfully graduated from high school; two live and work abroad, and the third studies informatics while working part-time at Haiti Projects. Marthe also lovingly adopted a baby girl when she was just seven months old after the mother passed away. Today, she’s 10 years old and thriving.
Her work with Haiti Projects has been more than a job—it has been a lifeline. “This job has helped me a lot. I’ve been able to send my kids to school and support my family.” With her earnings, she’s even started a small business from her home, selling drinks and cosmetics to people in her community.
For Marthe, making nightgowns isn’t just about creating with fabric and thread—it’s about pride. “I love seeing photos of people wearing the nightgowns I make. It motivates me to work even harder and ensure the quality is always up to standard.” She also gives back and inspires others with her love of sewing through classes held at the Haiti Projects’ Community Library, where she guides new artisans and helps hone their skills.
What she cherishes most about working in the artisanat is the bond with her fellow artisans. “When we’re all together—we support one another, we give advice, we laugh, and we share strength.”
She has one heartfelt request for you: “Please buy more and tell others to buy too. We don’t like to sit at home. Every woman working here wants more work so we can help our families.”
Today, on World Artisan Day, we celebrate Marthe and all the women like her—who create with love, uplift their communities, and inspire us with every stitch. When you wear a nightgown from Haiti Projects, you're not just wearing something beautiful. You're wearing a story - a legacy - a future.
