Today we’d like to introduce you to Sydney (Syddy) Martin.
Hi Sydney (Syddy), it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
Growing up, my mother taught me how to hand sew, which quickly became one of my favorite childhood memories. Not long after, I brought home leftover fabric from my elementary art class and hand-sewed my first dress. It was my first experience creating something entirely on my own, and I fell in love with the process.
Although I stepped away from sewing for several years while focusing on sports, I always found ways to express myself through fashion. I gravitated toward thrifting and altering clothes because I never enjoyed dressing like everyone else. Even when my ideas did not always turn out as planned, I loved being able to create something with my hands.
In college, I pursued a degree in Fashion Merchandising, and a design class reignited my passion for garment construction. I began creating pieces for myself, eventually selling them through social media and launching my first brand, SixtyFour Stitches, named in honor of my mother’s birth year. I later rebranded the business to Mareli, a name created from a combination of my parents’ names and my own.
In 2024, after my mother’s passing, I stepped away from Mareli and focused on navigating that chapter of my life. Now in 2026, I have found myself becoming interested in creating again, but I also recognize that I want more life experiences to continue growing creatively. Today, I work in project management, which has given me a broader understanding of business and taught me skills that I hope to one day apply to my own ventures.
While I am not yet where I ultimately want to be, everything I have learned from building Mareli and from my current career is helping prepare me for a future in fashion, whether that is through clothing design, styling, or creative curation.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
It definitely has not been a smooth road. There have been a lot of ups and downs. Not every clothing drop sells out, and sometimes people do not support you the way they said they would, which affects not only numbers but confidence as well. It can be hard spending hours, weeks, or even months creating for an anticipated drop just for it not to perform the way you hoped, but that is the nature of the business.
Another struggle has been funding. Manufacturing and freight are some of the biggest expenses, and without outside funding it can be difficult to execute ideas exactly how you envision them. The actual sewing process was also challenging. I sold made-to-order pieces with a two-to-three-week turnaround, and fulfilling 20 to 30 orders at once while pattern making, cutting, and constructing each garment by hand was demanding, but it taught me discipline and patience.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I feel like I am a business professional, but I will always be a creator at heart. As I mentioned earlier, I currently work in project management, helping improve workflows and bring projects to life. I am known for being detail-oriented, efficient, and having a strong eye for identifying emerging trends.
Outside of work, I am probably known for my sense of style. It has definitely evolved over the years, but I have always gravitated toward unique pieces and creating looks that feel true to me. I am most proud of my ability to simply be myself. In a world where so many people are chasing the next trend, I have never enjoyed looking like everybody else. I would not say I completely ignore trends, but I enjoy putting my own spin on them and finding pieces that are a little less common. I think that ability to stay true to myself is what sets me apart.
What do you like best about our city? What do you like least?
I would say the best part about Indianapolis is that there are a lot of people working to cultivate the culture and create opportunities for creatives to grow. I think there is an incredible amount of talent across different industries, but because we are a Midwest city, I do not think Indianapolis always gets the recognition it deserves when it comes to fashion, music, and other creative spaces.
The part I like least is that support can sometimes feel limited, especially if you are not already well known or do not fit what people expect. At times, it can feel like there are barriers that make it harder for emerging creatives to gain visibility and support.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @Syddneystyle or @Hellosyddy
