By Daniel Haynes

IN a market dominated by big names the likes of Sonia Noel, Keisha Edwards and Roger Gary, it’s little wonder that he’s been able to hold his own in the field at all. But hold his own he does, as those who know of him will attest.MAXI, THE MAN

Maxi Krishan Williams, or simply ‘Maxi’ to friends and those he works with, is a 33-year-old fashion designer, interior decorator, licensed make-up artist and a trained model.
Born here in Guyana on May 14, 1982 to a part Guyanese part Dutch family, he spent most of his childhood in neighbouring Suriname.
However, it was right here on these very shores that his interest in designing not only sparked but was set ablaze.
At the time, he recalled, ‘Omai’ was the ‘big band’ that made him think about the person behind the designing of the costumes. It was this self-same thought that would change his life forever.
Living on Thomas Street, just next door to the ‘legendary’ Don Gomes was also a great help.
He vividly recalls jumping up on the fence separating the two yards many a days, and looking into Gomes’ yard to see what he was up to.
It wasn’t long before he would go to work for Gomes as an apprentice. He was just 13.
And, believe it or not, his first assignment was in fact working on a hat. When Gomes saw what he’d done, he decided there and then to make him the sole designer for Mashramani.
He would work with Gomes until he was 17; that was the same year that ‘Carib’ came on the ‘Mash’ scene. The following year, Carib contacted him directly. And the rest, as they say, is history.
Over the years, he’s worked in Trinidad, which is where he got his make-up licence. Then in 2011, he launched his own designing service, offering employment to both young and old.
A TYPICAL DAY
A typical day for him starts with his thanking God for sparing his life to see another day. “I believe in God; I believe there is a God, and that it is He who gave me my natural gifts and talents. So I ask Him for guidance,” Max said.
He then takes care of whatever little chores he has to do, before heading to his shop on Brickdam.
After settling in, he does a few designs before starting on the sewing machine. If he has a project like he did last Tuesday, he heads to the project and does his interior decorating; something he says can take almost an entire day. That done, he then heads back to the shop to put in some extra work, or continue his designs.
“I’m not a designer who believes in having 25 pieces,” Maxi said. “If I do five pieces, and they are good, but no more come, then I’m good.”
When he’s good and satisfied with how his day went, he then locks up the store and, depending on his mood, either heads home, or go for a little ‘lime’.
PHILANTHROPY
Maxi has always been a firm believer in giving back, and helping the less fortunate. With having his own band (a fact he’s proud of) and starting the first Children’s Band, he has taken it to another level. “I’ve been working alongside the children of Joshua House,” he said, “so that they can enjoy ‘Mash’ in a new way.”
Maxi has been in and around the fashion scene in Guyana and will continue to be there for years to come. He has a surprise for Guyana with the upcoming Independence celebrations.