My Journey Between Art and Business
From poetry to entrepreneurship, connecting art, culture, commitment, and social impact.
Who I Am
I am Alessandra Martins, writer, cultural producer, brand strategist and creative entrepreneur.
I hold a degree in Literature, with a Postgraduate Certificate in Afro-Brazilian and Indigenous History and Culture, and an MBA in Marketing with a specialization in Branding from USP. I have also completed a Business Luxury program at Columbia University in New York, and I am currently studying Communication at the County College of Morris, in New Jersey.
My work unfolds at the intersection of words, culture, and innovation. I bring experience in storytelling, branding, and cultural production, developing projects that connect identity with strategy and creativity with impact.
My mission is to translate identity into language — whether through building a brand, writing a poem, or leading a project with social and cultural relevance. I believe every great idea needs soul, strategy, and affection.
I was born in Duque de Caxias, Rio de Janeiro, surrounded by pain, smiles, words, and silences. From an early age, I understood that writing is also a form of resistance.
As a teenager, I started working to support my studies and nurture dreams bigger than myself. Despite many obstacles and moments of discouragement, I kept going, guided by the ancestral strength within me — the force that sustains my writing, my fight, and my creativity.
My vision is to contribute to a more conscious, creative, just, and inclusive world, where brands and people can express themselves with authenticity. My values are rooted in listening, beauty, freedom, and consistency between words and actions.
My journey combines art, culture, and business, bridging literature and innovation to create projects with purpose and social impact. Since I was 15, balancing work and study, I developed resilience and strategic vision, which I now apply to strengthening brands and crafting authentic narratives.
My passion for discovery has taken me to distant places, broadened my worldview, and taught me to reframe difficult experiences. I have traveled to 15 countries and lived in three. Today, I live in the United States, connecting my Brazilian roots with international experiences to build bridges, not borders. I believe in the power of creativity with purpose — and that’s what I bring to every text, project, or brand I create. I strive to expand my multicultural perspective, which I translate into initiatives like Banana Bonita and Luxury Loop US, projects that blend fashion, art, and culture with creative market strategies.
I have been writing since childhood, not only as a form of expression but as a tool for transformation. My literary work is marked by themes such as belonging, memory, and resistance. I wrote my first Afrocentric poem in 2008. In 2012, my first piece was published by FLUPP Pensa. Since then, I have participated in various anthologies and literary magazines, including volumes 43, 44, and 45 of Cadernos Negros (Quilombhoje).
I am the author of the book Voa, Sankofa, Voa! (2021), a celebration of African ancestry and resistance through poetry, and the eBook O Sol Brilha Para Todos (2023), a story that exposes structural racism and sexism in Brazil.
In 2024, I was invited by the Ministry of Racial Equality to participate in the special edition of Cadernos Negros – Brazil for Racial Equality, alongside 30 other Afro-Brazilian women writers, at a parallel event to the G20.
My journey also extends to audiovisual work: I received an Honorable Mention for the short film Afrodescendant Communities (UNESCO and IberCultura Viva, 2018) and participated in the Black and Indigenous Narratives Laboratory at FLUP, in partnership with Rede Globo, in 2022.
In recognition of my artistic work and social activism, I was honored with the Arte em Movimento Trophy in both 2021 and 2023.
All my work is rooted in ancestry but engages with contemporary themes. Poetic, political, and innovative, it reflects my perspective on the world.
My journey brings together literature, branding, and cultural impact with an affectionate and ancestral approach. Beyond writing, I develop brands and projects that explore different forms of expression and connection.
I created and lead three complementary initiatives:
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Banana Bonita – a multi-brand store focused on reselling accessories, fashion, and various items with a light, colorful, and playful identity.
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Luxury Loop US – a circular luxury thrift store with ethical and curated selections.
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Ifárandu – a cultural hub dedicated to education, memory, and Afro-diasporic knowledge.
Although distinct in purpose and audience, all share the same essence: creativity, purpose, and positive social impact.
Each project is an extension of who I am: multipotential, creative, and connected to diverse worlds.
Contact
Get in touch so we can start working together.
