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Marty Stevens-Heebner is the founder and president of Half the Sky Designs and the designer behind the award-winning Rebagz™ handbag line. She is also an author and has been called a “fashion outlaw” by one magazine editor because of the chances she takes in her designs, her life and her way of doing business. Marty’s interest in eco-design and fair working conditions dates back to her human rights work in Chiapas, Mexico amid the aftermath of the Zapatista rebellion. At one point, she even helped coordinate the delegation that took Oliver Stone into the Lacandon jungle to meet the Zapatistas’ Subcomandante Marcos – and wound up sick with the jungle flu for four months. She was amazed by the inventiveness of the artisans in Chiapas, who lacked resources but more than made up for that with their originality and flare.
Following her humanitarian work – but prior to becoming a handbag designer – Marty had her own small but successful business creating original handcrafted jewelry. Her work wound up on the cover of Belle Armoire and was featured in Altered Couture and Jewelry magazine as well. She appeared as an expert crafter on HGTV’s “Crafters Coast to Coast” and on the DIY network’s “Craft Lab” and also co-authored the book, "Beaded
Vintage Jewelry Designs" with her great friend and jewelry-making cohort Christine Calla (Lark/Sterling Publishing, June 2007).
It was Christine who, at the end of 2006, suggested to Marty that she go to the Philippines to start her handbag line – and the rest is Rebagz history. Marty makes a point of going to the Philippines at least twice a year to inspect the places where her handbags are made to ensure the people making them are paid and treated fairly and decently. She also has an upcoming book,"Altered Shoes - A Step By Step Guide To Making Your Footwear Fabulous" (F & W Media) , due out in February 2009). Marty shares her home with three dogs who are all mutts and all rescues – and that means even her dogs are recycled.
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