Imagine Caribbean : Ailene Bailey of Ailocious

Photo Credit: Errol John Photography

I recently caught up with Ailene Bailey, the designer behind the Ailocious jewelry line and the last of the creative trio from St Vincent to be featured on the blog. Ailene is passionate about her art and dedicated to her business. Not surprisingly, her jewellery has been gaining popularity on the local Vincentian fashion scene. The pieces are unique, eclectic and edgy and have the potential to transform any outfit from blah to fabulous. This free spirited, Vincy/Bajan, wild child believes that people essentially wear their personalities so she customizes jewellery that seeks to embody that. She incorporates rustic metals, wire, polished stones and other jewels to create whimsical bohemian inspired statement pieces. If you are keen on letting your accessories speak , Ailocious just might be the brand for you. 

 Did you always know that you wanted to do this? How did you get into this field? 

I believe the universe chooses us. We are all born with special abilities and functions that we need to fulfill in life. I am a certified Early Childhood Educator and a trained office administrator, but I have always been artistic and creative. If you met any of my school mates they would describe me as “weird” or “different”, but I guess they didn’t understand that to mean “unique”. About three years ago a started a degree in Creative Arts online, I finished the online modules but I needed to be there physically for the rest of the program, so I put the program on hold until my kids are older and I can travel for an extended period. After I did this I stumbled onto a local fashion design course hosted by Vincentian designer Alex Grant. She gets the credit for reawakening my creative awareness and helping me to realize my true potential. So I guess I didn’t choose this field, it chose me and I am totally prepared to accept my calling and go where it leads me.

 Who or what inspires you? 

 I am inspired by people, I tend to feed off the energy of my family and friends. I am very free spirited so I’m inspired by freedom; of mind, and of movement. I am also inspired by culture, shapes and music. I love rock music, strange I know, but I love bands like Led Zeppelin, I’m also a big fan of Buju Banton. My kids also inspire me, they are artists as well.

How would you describe your personal style?

I would describe my style as very gypsy, rock & roll, bohemian. I love colour. I guess I wear my personality, I wear who I am on my sleeve so perhaps I say that my style is soft but hard and edgy at the same time. Imagine the street style of homeless person living out of a suitcase, I am very eclectic in my taste. I tend to switch up my hair a lot, I have even had blue hair. I wear my friends stuff all the time so my wardrobe has a lot of items from Fashion is Payne and Ikesha Art. 


What is a typical day like for you? 

No day is typical, I have an unconventional household and I have teenagers. I usually wake up early and although I have a studio room I prefer to work from my breakfast nook . I listen to music and work on wirebending or string art and I tinker around until I create something I like, people don’t even get to see half of the things I make, I don’t share everything. I don’t really have a set routine, I do sketches or create when I’m inspired. I am what you would call an introverted extrovert. I’m very much inside my own head especially when I get creative, I need that space to recharge and create but it’s also important for me to be around my friends and family because I feed of their energy. 

 What has been the most amazing moment for Ailocious so far? 

 Partnering up with other persons who are just like me, I have a close relationship with Ikesha and Jeremy, we work together and each of our work is featured in the other's photoshoot. I love the dynamic that we have, we just “get” each other in a way that nobody else does and I love that. It’s just important to have persons to encourage and share with.


 What has been your biggest challenge? 

 I have trouble sourcing the raw materials to make my jewelry, I love organic stuff and I love my jewelry to have a very rustic organic feel. Also the tools that I use to work the metals are expensive to import and the cost of production tends to be high. My biggest challenge right now is finding a way to be creative on a budget and make a profit. This has challenged me to improvise with materials, I also recycle and re-use material in a creative way. I have also had to find out the hard way that everyone is not around you because they want to help or support. Some persons are very opportunistic, you just have to weigh persons properly and learn from your mistakes and associations. However I think this will be my defining year, I have become more self-aware, I have been putting my products out there and I am becoming more committed and doing the market research. 

 If you could pick one celebrity as the brand ambassador for your line who would it be and why?

 I can’t just pick one. Locally I would have to say that my muse is Zen Punett because she is so free spirited and zen. Internationally, I would have to say Lisa Bonet. They are the embodiment of a lifestyle and essence that I try to articulate through my craft. They’re the vibe I feel when I am creating; freedom, nature, peace and love. 

 How are you currently marketing your brand?

 I primarily use social media and my clients also tell their friends about my pieces so word of mouth helps. Initially, I created my Facebook page as part of a project for a course that I was doing but then it took off and now it’s an excellent marketing tool for my business. People visit the page, they tell their friends and the orders roll in. The response from the public has been favourable, they just can’t get enough of the jewelry.

How would you like to see the brand evolve?

I would like to work with other metals such as copper and to expand the range of my jewellery. However I have big dreams of starting a company that provides support for other Caribbean creatives not only artistically but from a business perspective. I want to leave a legacy of building the industry and providing a safe space for creatives. I want to guide and empower them so they would not be exploited. This company should give a home to artists who have no voice, it should be a safe space where artists can be seen, heard and understood by like-minded persons. This company should be like a springboard to help artists launch into their business. 

 What advice do you have for aspiring designers/creatives seeking to make a career in your field?

 I would tell them to find your inner child, embrace them, love them and then introduce them to the world. You will be criticized but you must be strong for you and your inner child. If your child is collecting rocks, people will wonder and as “why, why? Nobody else is doing it” just ignore them and believe in yourself. 

 If you are in the market for eclectic handmade jewelry check out Ailocious Jewellery here: 

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Imagine Caribbean: Jeremy Payne of Fashion is Payne

Photo Credit: Errol John Photography

What do you get when you combine a passion for fashion, an education in Fine Arts and a love for street wear. I hope you said a glamorous T-shirt line because you would be absolutely correct. Jeremy Payne, the Vincentian designer behind Fashion is Payne creates hand made cotton T-shirts which seem to have a personality and a life all of their own. His SS2014 collection incorporates vibrant colours with geometric patterns and fringed appliques. This collection resonated with me because I'm an 80's baby and it gave me a distinct 80's tropical vibe. I recently connected with him to discuss his work and realised that the T-shirts are an extension of his jovial personality. 

How did you get into this field?

It was a natural progression I studied Art & Design at the St Vincent Community College but it wasn't until 2007 I realised that I could actually make a career from this. From there I went full speed ahead, I initially launched my line under the name Silky Ruff in 2008, I rebranded as Payne in 2012 and now my clothing line is represented by the name Fashion is Payne because it just made sense. T-shirts are like quintessential street wear and they are comfortable...I'm sure even Queen Elizabeth wears T-shirts.                                                 

Who or what inspires you? 

I am inspired by nature, patterns, eclectic personalities, music, street style and art, I also like industrial type stuff like street signs and street cones.  

How would you describe your personal style?

My style is eccentric, I like looking very dapper and preppy at times but at the same time my style is very grungy. I like ripped clothes and rugged cuts, washed out pieces and paint spattered clothes. It's a bit ecclectic, but there is some direction to my messiness. I don't take fashion too seriously, I don't want my clothes to be too pretty. I guess the best way to describe my current style is afro-punk. My clothes reflect me, I keep strict control over my personal life but I'm very free with what I wear. I just try not to over think it too much.                                

What is a typical day like for you? 

It varies, some days I don't do anything at all even if I want to. I usually wake up with the energy to create and get right to work, I capitalise on that energy because I don't want to break and lose my momentum. When I think I've done sufficient work I do other things like browse online, check out my favorite magazines such as Vogue etc, to get inspiration. I hoard a lot of photos of things that I see and like . I also sketch a lot, I try to do 1 sketch per day.  Later on I might take a walk around my neighbourhood, it's very green and full of trees, it relaxes and inspires me. 

What has been the most amazing moment for your brand? 

 In 2009 when I was in my second year in college, I went to Miami Fashion Week this was facilitated by Invest SVG and the Center for Enterprise Development. It was a great learning experience to see how other designers work and to experience fashion on an international level. This sealed the deal for me and showed me that I needed to work in the fashion industry. Fashion is generally a cut throat business but I liked the interaction with the other designers, I saw how seriously they took their work. They didn’t treat me like an amateur at all, they treated me really well. It was a very enlightening experience.

Every day is a highlight, when a client sends me a picture of their Payne Stash that excites me. The brand is a reflection of me so when people believe in the products I take it a little personal. I am just inspired by the respect and appreciation that people have for my work.

What has been your biggest challenge?

 I have trouble sourcing fabric and other things. There is a demand & people ask for it all the time but it's hard to source the fabric or it costs an arm and a leg to import. I am a small business and I don't have a steady cash flow so funding has also been a challenge. Another challenge is finding the right persons to link and collaborate with. I think it's so important for artists to form the right associations with persons who share your vision. 

If you could pick one celebrity as the brand ambassador for your line who would it be and why?

Well these persons aren’t celebrities but locally I would have to say Eniye  Kagbala and  Peta Odini. I love their fashion sense and the way they wear their clothes, they just have their own identity, the clothes don’t wear them and you can always tell exactly who they are because of their clothes. That’s true personal style.

Internationally, I would pick Solange Knowles, I love the way she follows her own path. I also like Grace Jones because of her androgynous features. She tells my artistic story. She would be the perfect muse for my artwork, she’s hardcore, edgy, she tells it as is. She is totally herself. I live vicariously through these people, I admire them as people first and then as style icons. 

How are you currently marketing your line? 

Well I have been doing the fashion editing for a local editorial called Vincy eZine. In it we promote local content and I feature a lot of my work along with the work of other local artisans. I also use social media, I take part in fashion shows and I do collaborative work with other creatives like Ikesha Art and Ailocious. I also do a lot of networking because I am looking to expand into other areas. 

What's next for Fashion is Payne?  

I want to do more collaborative projects and get more experience with persons in other fields. I would really love to do photography and videography and learn the other technological aspects of fashion. I just want to be cutting edge and stay fresh. It would also be great to get my line into more stores so it's readily accessible to more people. 

What advice do you have for aspiring designers/creatives seeking to make a career in your field? 

Don't go into this business blindly, don't think you know everything, take time to research every aspect of the business. Eat, sleep and live what you do but try to balance it with your life...but what am I saying? This would be your life! Just prepare yourself and breathe what you do and it becomes your life. Surround yourself with like minded people who understand what you do. It's also important to surround yourself with persons who would give honest feedback. 

To build your Payne Stash check him out here:

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Imagine Caribbean: Ikesha Delpesche of Ikesha Art

Photo Credit: Errol John Photography and Design

I recently stumbled across some images on Facebook which perfectly articulated my vision of a Caribbean Fashion Aesthetic. The images captured the rustic charm that is synonymous with island life but they had a very cosmopolitan appeal. They were part of the promotional shoot for Ikesha Art's SS2014 Handbag collection. Ikesha Art is the brainchild of Vincentian designer Ikesha Delpesche who specialises in making one of a kind clutches, purses and handbags.  Between the vibrant colours, the intricate detailing of the work, her incorporation of African print fabrics and the styling of the photo shoot I was hard pressed to choose what I loved most her bags. I was so proud of this Vincentian designer’s use of her creative talent and imagination to create this awesome brand, I knew immediately that I had to feature her.

How did you get started in this business? 

I started out as a dressmaker and a  jewellery designer. However, because I always had a 9 to 5 job, I was pretty laid back with the dress making although I did sew for a few persons in between jobs. One day when I went to drop off an order of earrings for a customer, I had a sling bag made from fabric that I had bought from a street vendor. My customer knowing that I could sew, asked me to make a bag exactly like the one I was wearing. I went home and de-constructed the bag just to see how they put it together. I was able to draft a pattern and I made her a bag from floral upholstery fabric. In two days I put a price to it and delivered it and she was so amazed by the bag. From then on, I started making bags and advertising them on Facebook and from there I built my clientele. If you check my product page on Facebook I outline the services I offer; it includes dressmaking and as well as accessories. However, I focus on the bags because there is a market for it. There aren't very many Caribbean handbag designers and I want to make a name for the Caribbean on the international market.

Who or what inspires you?

 I am inspired by a lot of things in nature; the plants, the clouds, the moon, the stars, African prints & African art. I draw inspiration from whatever is around me.

How would you describe your personal style?

I love fashion and style. I would describe my style as very relaxed and laid back. I am drawn to long dresses, long skirts, head wraps and very colourful patterns. I wear a lot of Ailocious jewelry and local leather sandals.

 What is a typical day like for you?

I have two kids so I wake up and get them ready for school. In addition to the handbags I also offer dressmaking services so once the children leave I settle down to work on any  custom orders that I have. I might make a bag or try to create a new design or a new concept. After this I check blogs, websites, pinterest for inspiration. Between 3-4 I pick up my kids from school, when I return I finish the orders that I was working on. In the evening,  I hang out with my children then put them to bed. I am usually in bed very early, I need to get my sleep. 

What has been your biggest challenge with your business to date?

It's difficult to find a wide variety of leatherette and African print fabric in St Vincent to create my bags. Also, finding the hardware to embellish the bags such as the rivets etc, they can be very costly especially when they have to be cleared at customs. I want my bags to be affordable, I would like to make a profit but I don't want to have to pass on the high costs to my customers. To control my costs I try to recycle, customers can bring in their old bags that need fixing.  Funding for the business is another issue, not only for raw materials and equipment but  getting sponsorship to attend more trade shows outside of St Vincent in order to promote my bags has been difficult. 

What has been the most amazing moment ?

Well there are too many to count. My friend Ailene of Ailocious and and I joined up for a regional conference and exhibition put on by Youth Business SVG in September  2012 and were awarded most outstanding entrepreneurs. At the time I created retro themed jewelry with telephone wires and the response was very encouraging. More recently in December we went to Canaoun for an exhibition and the sales were great, the response was even better than on mainland St Vincent, I had a lot of enquiries and the bags sold out very quickly. 

How are you currently marketing your brand?

I use social media,I have a Facebook fan page for the brand and word of mouth helps, people who buy my bags tell their friends and I find that once customers buy a bag they tend to return. I recently started offering my services at Florangements, a boutique at #31 Central Market Shop in Kingstown. It's right there on the first floor and they carry my bags. I also promote my work at trade shows and exhibitions.

If you could pick one celebrity as the brand ambassador for your line who would it be and why?

To be honest I’m not very big on celebrities . The person who best embodies my brand is Jennlee Shallow a Vincentian currently living in New York. In fact she was the model for the photo shoot. She is a natural beauty, very down to earth, very unique very humble, very talented. She loves custom made pieces and she understands the dedication that goes into the art. She herself is a creative who is multitalented and versatile; she sings, she models, she acts.

What is next for the Ikesha Art brand?

I would love to work with genuine leather, there is no supply  for it locally, if I could source it overseas at an affordable price that would be great. I also want to improve my labelling, and packaging and I want to get a better sewing machine so that I can do neater stitching. I want my bags to look like authentic, high quality designer bags. I dream of owning a bag factory that rivals Prada.

What advice do you have for aspiring designers/creatives seeking to make a career in your field. 

I would advise them not to do it unless you have a passion for it, the ideas wont come and your business will not develop. Work hard and produce quality products that people will appreciate. Don’t be afraid to create and don’t be afraid to fail, don't be afraid of criticism either. Also, spend a lot of time on researching and developing your art.

To see more of Ikesha’s amazing work or to purchase her bags, follow Ikesha on:

Facebook : Ikesha Art

Pinterest: Ikesha Delpesche