WHEN Karen Brathwaite took a liking to sewing at age 15, she didn’t think she would make it into a career as a fashion designer, who would later became a teacher at the E.R. Burrowes School of Art.

It was as a teenager that she took it seriously and realised she had a deep liking for garment making and after she left Guyana for Barbados, where she lived for 13 years, she went to school and attained a Degree as a Fashion Designer.

She is also a full-time teacher at the E.R. Burrowes School of Art teaching fashion designing, a course that was recently introduced in the curriculum.

Brathwaite returned to Guyana two years ago and though she has not yet officially launched her brand “Kosmic Vibes,” she developed a showroom and studio from which she runs her business.

“Kosmic Vibes,” Brathwaite said, started with a thought that became a reality and that’s how she chose the name.

Being a fashion designer is Brathwaite’s main source of income. She has one staff in her employ and is presently preparing a fashion line and a quantity of casual clothing to pack in a container to be shipped for Carifesta in Trinidad and Tobago.

“I love clothes, nice clothes that are well-fitted and I like to dress up as well; I like to look good and I also like to see people in nice clothes and so I started drawing as a child and when I grew older, instead of asking for toys, I would ask for money to buy a piece of cloth to do my own sewing,” she said.

Brathwaite told the Pepperpot Magazine that even though she went ‘blindly’ into the world of dressmaking, at an early age she did well due to the raw talent she has and credits her success to her inspiration, Jennifer Gibson, who tutored her in the art of batik, tie-dye and fabric painting.

Chance encounter
She explained that after she lost her job after four years as a civilian accounts clerk attached to the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) due to downsizing, she didn’t know what to do to make a living.

Brathwaite started a few evening classes in dressmaking and was propelled into fashion designing, because she wanted to learn to pattern clothes to suit all body types.

Back then, she didn’t even know to cut out a simple skirt but with persistence and the love for it, she got started and is very happy she did because she likes what she does today.

Brathwaite recalled that, while living in Barbados with her husband and children, she was involved in fashion shows and at one time she was attending two sewing classes, but nevertheless was successful in qualifying herself.

Operations
She related that at her showroom she has complete outfits and persons can just visit and see what they like, but she also takes orders and is seeking a spot on the export market.

Brathwaite already has a market for her pieces in Barbados, so much so, that she can hardly keep up with the demand and would like to build a team of capable people to assist her from right out of their homes.

“In this job, you got to love what you do to keep customers and I have been sewing for many people including doctors, artistes, ambassadors and their spouses among others. This kind of work entails a lot of work and many sleepless nights, because I also make accessories to complement all outfits, bags, hats and slippers,” she said.

Brathwaite disclosed that the most technical part of fashion designing is the pattern which is the foundation of the garment after which it takes shape.

She added that she didn’t find fashion designing, in fact, it found her and she embraced it with open arms and grew by leaps and bounds.

The mother of three told the Pepperpot Magazine that being a seamstress is one thing and being a fashion designer is something else, because you have to sew clothes to suit all body shapes and incorporate it to make that person look good.

Brathwaite told the Pepperpot Magazine that her outfits are well-fitted and whenever she makes a piece it is something to talk about and is intrigued with all things African, especially, jewellery and fabrics.