WITHIN seconds of meeting Arthlene Lawrence, her thick accent would tell you that she is not from the United States. Yet, she has lived there for more than 30 years, but her Dominican tongue stands strong. “It is important to remain connected to the Caribbean. With whatever I do, I always try to pull the Caribbean into it so we can get more recognition.

No matter where I go, I try to talk about the Caribbean islands. We have so many great resources and amazing sites and wonderful people, I don’t want it to be a secret I want people to know there is a lot more to get and give in the islands. It feels great to represent my country as a proud Caribbean woman,” Arthlene said.

And that representation can also be seen in her work; a designer for almost nine years, Arthlene’s business, the Legair Brand Company, has taken her many places, but she ensures that each design is infused with a bit of Dominican flavour. Now, having been bestowed with many awards for her work, Arthlene hopes that thus far, she has made her homeland proud.

Arthlene discovered her talent for designing in 2008 when her daughter came to her unable to find the right dress for an upcoming Father-Daughter Dance. “I used to sew when I was younger, so my daughter asked if I could sew something; so I said I think I can try and we sat together and we came up with a dress for her,” Arthlene said. Using her self-taught skills, she was able to complete the perfect dress in one night. “As soon as she got to the dance, the pastor and everyone were like ‘where did you find this dress?’

And when they heard that her mother made it, they couldn’t believe, because they all knew I was in nursing school, they didn’t know I could sew,” she said. Seeing her talent, her Pastor, Tyus Nedd, encouraged her to invest in it, stating that she had a gift. After meeting with the pastor once a month for about three months, she was encouraged to get into designing full time. “I remember I was in Anatomy class and the professor was talking and I couldn’t understand what he was saying, so I asked God for a sign and just then the professor told us to take a break and I packed my bag and never came back,” she said.

The following Mother’s Day, Arthlene put together her first fashion show with 75 pieces. The show, which was held at the International Christian Centre, was sold out.
Business picked up from there, and the rest is history. Today, Arthlene is a successful designer and is widely noted for her avant-garde gown made up of over 700 peacock feathers valued at over US$10,000.

The gown was featured in African Vibes magazine, Sparks magazine, in England and Couture Fashion Week, New York, at the famous Waldorf Astoria Hotel. She is a favourite designer of Hollywood actress Tangi Miller and gospel recording artistes Lois Commodore and Deborah Hightower. Also, favourite designer to Celebrity Actress Kari Wells, a model from London England, Bravo TV’s Married to Medicine star and Tyler Perry “haves and the have nots.

Charity
Arthlene is also the founder and president of the Restore to Empower Charity Organisation, which is a leader in philanthropic giving, providing mentoring, support and educational programmes for young adults, abused, at-risk children and high school dropouts. “We work with these people and try to empower them. If there is anything I can do, I try to do for them; teach them skills or other extra-curricular activities, teach them sewing and fashion, because that is where my expertise is. We try to help them not to give up. We let them know that if they put their minds to it they can do it,” she said. The organisation is currently working on a uniform project with partners from Dominica.

The project will see the provision of uniforms for children in primary schools on the island.
She also partnered with local organisation Nelly’s Catwalk for Kids where she created 50 headbands for children with cancer. “What I try to do is just try to empower people, they are sick, tired or distressed; I try to let them know there is hope, there is help, there is support if you just reach out,” she said. Soon, Arthlene will host a feature event for 25 to 50 selected teachers by having a VIP event and honouring them for their work with children by giving them awards. “I believe that teachers should know how much they put into our lives, because I believe they don’t have enough recognition for what they are doing,” she said.

Arthlene has also founded a fashion school The Laudat Institute Fashion and Education (LIFE) to help inspire up-and-coming designers. So far, one of her students who finished her classes two years ago is now a designer in New York.
For all her philantrophic work and other work in fashion, Arthlene has been bestowed with many Awards and honours, including “Humanitarian Of The Year Award”  at Atlanta City Hall Atrium by The Atlanta Latino Fashion Week and The Black Women In Jazz & The Arts Awards-2016 Youth Empowerment Through Music Award” among many others.
“I love working with people. Knowing I can help and empower them is a blessing; that is why I still work as a nurse part-time. The same goes for the fashion industry. When I get to work with young models, I always try to impact their lives to encourage them or speak into their lives,” she said.

Arthlene looks forward to working on future projects through her organisation, particularly in the Caribbean, beginning with Dominica. “My home Dominica is my first love and I did not leave because it wasn’t a good place to be, but the U.S. had more opportunities for me at the time, as a young girl. But I look at my island as the best and whatever I become here I still represent Dominica, because that is where my roots are. It is important to stay connected to your roots. Sometimes you get so involved in the U.S., you can forget but I try to stay connected wherever I go,” she said.