Rising Stars: Meet Mars Wright

Today we’d like to introduce you to Mars Wright.

Hi Mars, 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?
I started screenprinting shirts back in college but once I graduated and moved to LA things really started. I was struggling to make enough money to afford rent and remembered how I used to sell shirts in college and decided to give it a go. It was super DIY at first with me hand screenprinting every item and selling them through DMs and venmo.

From there I kept at it slowly releasing new shirts when I could with empowering messages of Trans Joy, Radical Vulnerability and an emphasis on suicide prevention.

I then got connected with a local screenprinting and embroidery shop here in Los Angeles and they really believed in me and my mission so they started to help me produce and ship my inventory. That was in 2020 and every year since then, we have grown really well releasing over 250 items and generating over 5,500 orders all around the world (at the end of 2022)

From the start, I have always donated back to the community and with every purchase, I donate a portion of the proceeds back to the black Trans Community via the Unique Woman’s Coalition.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It has definitely not always been easy. As a visible trans person online, I open myself up to lots of hate and transphobic messages and comments. When I first started talking about Trans Joy in 2020 people were really upset, they wanted transness to be defined by self-hate and suffering and they did not appreciate me saying being Trans could be a blessing.

As a triple Taurus my stubbornness helped me never stop and I have received so many loving messages from people saying I helped inspire them to come out and love themselves as they are.

That on top of being a young and new designer and business owner in a pandemic, I dealt with shipping headaches, fear and anxiety about not being able to figure all of this out, and a ton of imposter syndrome. The good 100% outweighs the bad though.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
Life on Mars is a streetwear brand dedicated to empowering the Trans and Queer community with affirming clothes and vulnerable art. A portion of the proceeds goes to the Black Trans Community via the Unique Woman’s Coalition. We are all trying our best and Life on Mars wants to honor that effort.

I am known for creating clothing that centers trans joy with inclusive sizes and styles to help with gender dysphoria. I also create one-off hand-painted custom clothes and paintings as well as a mural on Fountain Ave for Project Q.

I am most proud of the impact I have had on the Transgender community by showing them that you can be a happy and successful Trans person, that life is worth living, that Trans Joy is real and that Queer Love Exists.

What sets me apart is my ability to work through the deep pain of my past and the transphobia I have experienced through art and Trans Joy and how it helps others feel less alone.

Where do you see things going in the next 5-10 years?
I think the fashion industry will continue to get more Queer but I fear the big brands and names will co-opt the gender nonconformity us as queer and trans people have always been expressing for their monetary gain. That is why now more than ever, we need to support independent queer and trans artists!

Contact Info:

• Website: www.marswright.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mars.wright/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LifeOnMarsWright/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/marswright
• Tiktok: @mars.wright

Image Credits
Mars Wright