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: 

Facebook 

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

See, the way my account is set up...

My friend posted this video on Facebook. It features 20 year old Brendah Wacuka from Kenya speaking about financial literacy and it sparked the idea for this blog post. In an era of rampant consumerism and guerilla marketing, it's very easy to get caught up in the acquisition of material things instead of saving and investing. I would be overstepping my bounds by telling people what to do with their hard earned money but I can't help but point out the disconnect in wealth between those who consume indiscriminately versus those who produce, the chasm between those who spend frivolously and those who invest.

I'm sure in every Caribbean society there's the story of the poor man or woman who started out selling in a handcart or at the side of the road somewhere . They started small and plugged the profits back into the business until they either amassed a veritable fortune or spearheaded a formidable business empire. More often than not these people are Indian or Syrian or Chinese. There's a running joke about Indians and their ability to get rich ... Indians, Syrians, Chinese, everyone but people of African descent.

Is it that those ethnicities have an inherent knack for multiplying their money? Do they have innate skills for managing finances? Do they have secret networks and support systems that prop up their businesses? Is it that they have a sense of kinship with their brethren and share the gains, the hard work and the profits? Is it that they know how to work collectively? Is it that they are better at exploiting opportunities or taking risks? Who knows?

It is not my intention to ignore the historical and economic realities that have fostered the success of certain groups. Slavery was a handicap for us but how long are we going to focus on that.  Why aren't more black people  in the Caribbean creating wealth?  Is it that they are selfish, lack discipline and vision and are particularly susceptible to "crab in a barrell" mentality? I reject these stereotypes. I suspect the differences  lie in cultural upbringing.

When I worked at a commercial bank in Barbados I could never convince the Indians to take a loan or credit card, they scoffed at the idea of consumer credit and vehemently eschewed the idea of incurring debt.Loans, hire purchase and credit cards while seemingly a gateway to your dreams, are trojan horses because they come bearing interest. Interest payments escalate very quickly and may (if you're lucky) have you repaying up to 2 and a half times the money you initially borrowed. Are you horrified yet? Imagine if you were able to retain even half of what you paid to service that debt. I suspect the Indians are onto this secret. The Syrians and Chinese have similar ethics. I'm not sure how they get the money to fund their enterprises but they tend to be very frugal and big on entrepreneurship. You seldom find them slaving away in someone's office, they own their businesses. There must be some correlation between this and their financial success.

Some people don't save, and those who do, often don't know how to balance their saving with investments. Most people put away money for a rainy day but do not actively work on multiplying that money. The topic of financial literacy is important to me so I won't let racial stereotypes skew my discourse any further. Whatever your race or class  financial  habits whether good or bad are learned, so there is hope for us all. Saving is important but we must go beyond this. When you work hard for your money its important to put your money to work for you too. It is easy to develop a misguided sense of entitlement and blow it all by saying "I work hard for this money so I should reward myself with (insert whatever material commodity is hot right now)". Wise financial decisions are necessary, depreciating assets not so much. 

Notwithstanding, saving may not be all that it's cracked up to be. If you deposit your money in a commercial bank in St Vincent they will pay you an interest rate of  approximately 2.91 - 3% on your deposit.The bank will then use the money you have deposited to fund loans, but the banks charge an interest rate of  approximately 9% on consumer loans . That, my friends,is called arbitrage and that is how banks put your deposits to work and make money.  I am not saying not to save, having a cushion of savings increases the options available to you. Do the math, you would be well advised to put your money to work in something that's lucrative for you and not just the banks.

Good or bad financial habits are learned and therefore can be unlearned. Practical, straightforward courses at the grassroots level, which teach people financial literacy and how to monetize their skills and talents would be welcome especially here in the Caribbean. These are practical life skills that should be widely taught, wealth management shouldn't be some mystical, elusive goal. The children of the education revolution are returning from university, they are educated, enlightened (I hope) and they have spending power. Significant developmental gains would ensue if they are taught how to leverage this. At the very least, it would take some of the mystery out of money management  and would help people who can't avoid loans and other forms of consumer credit to make informed financial decisions.

 In the wake of the CL Financial fiasco and other economic meltdowns I have a healthy scepticism of financial institutions. I'm not trying to fritter away my money or give an unscrupulous money manager the opportunity to exploit me however I can't just throw up arms and bury money under my bed. My eyes tend to glaze over at the thought of stocks/shares, bonds, portfolios and net worth, it can be so abstract! The process of demystifying investments seems complicated and a bit daunting but I am committed to understanding wealth management and finance. I am no financial whiz but I am now widening my focus and considering entrepreneurship as opposed to mutual funds and stocks and bonds as future options for investment. I'm in the middle of getting a Legal Education Certificate but I find myself increasingly drawn to entrepreneurship, if I could find a way to combine both that would be perfect. I would be lying if I said I had it all figured out but it's a work in progress. One of my ultimate aims is to navigate my way to that perfect space where savings, investment and sheer entrepreneurial tenacity make me fulfilled, wealthy and debt free. Formidable, I know, but still achievable.