When I attended Marian Academy, there was always a day designated during term time for reflection. I was quite immature at that point in time, so naturally I never took it upon myself to reflect on anything. I was just mostly grateful for the day and took the down time to ‘lime’ with my peers.
Time for reflection is more valuable than anything else though. I have learnt that the hard way. If you don’t use it well, chances are whatever you intend to do after could potentially be damaging. You must always be able to take a step back and look at your actions from different angles.
Fast forward to now, I push in at least 30 minutes of reflection almost every day. I try to critically examine things I’m not confident about or even things that I have been doing for a while. You know, just to keep myself in check.
Today I want to explore cause and reason: why I think the regional fashion industry continues to drive a nail into itself which in turn prevents real development and growth.
This is my reflection.
Strategy not feelings
I can think of countless times that we have attached the words ‘fashion guru’ to people without actually taking into consideration the quality of their work. The majority of the ‘fashion talent’ we have in the Caribbean is actually genuine enthusiasm. Fashion designing talent and enthusiasm are two completely different things and this is what I believe many people fail to recognize. Enthusiasm is always welcome, but quality must never be compromised. The fashion industry is saturated with wannabes. Therefore, the term ‘fashion guru’ should only be used when someone’s work is redefining the way we look at fashion, or when that person has skilfully incorporated an ethical framework into the brand, or when that person’s collections try to incorporate social issues. In other words, the talent must be unquestionable. The person’s contribution must be able to change and influence the way we see fashion on a whole not just on a regional scale. We need to start sharing praise more appropriately, based on the quality and integrity of the clothing being produced. We need to know that it’s okay to constructively criticize and that criticism is not coming from a personal place.
Designation
Last year when I visited the University of Trinidad and Tobago’s fashion arm, the Caribbean Academy for Fashion and Design (CAFD), one of the things I was concerned about after reviewing the collections was the overall direction of the school. I was concerned because of the shift in quality and the extreme variance with those who took on external internships in comparison to those who didn’t. You see, CAFD had structural changes and those changes affected the quality of work being produced. Lecturers were forced to leave and replacements were the newly graduated students.
I find the creative industry to be a very fragile one. When you are trying to build it you need to set its core correctly. Finances are important. Quality, in terms of the people providing guidance should be top priority. My godmother likes to say, “If you are doing something do it well or don’t do it at all” and in Guyanese parlance “When yah like play cheap, yah does pay dear.” I believe her because quality has no expiration date. A fashion industry can’t grow if at the very core you don’t have someone navigating and guiding a sustainable strategy for it. Fair and appropriate designations are important.
Sometimes we don’t realise how damaging our choices are for the local arts because in several instances we are just going with the flow with not too many people around us pulling us in for fitness. We must be able to incorporate a more sustainable methodology in our fashion businesses, not only for expansion opportunities, but because it just makes sense.
One of the setbacks in the regional industry that I find most disappointing is its inability to access a global marketplace through e-commerce. But then again, there is also a knowledge gap in preparing students at the CAFD for a regional market.
