AISHA ‘A/TayJAH’ Jones is a full-time creative artist and entrepreneur who wears many other hats. Throughout all of her endeavours, though, one major commonality is present. It is something that she feels strongly about, and thus tries to intertwine in all of her undertakings. It is the big subject of mental health.

The 29-year-old, known as a dancer, poet, musician, and photographer, has more recently invested in a fashion brand called, ‘Raggarebel Style and Fashion’, and another business called, ‘Smudging White Sage Products’, which produces botanical herbs that are used for boosting mental health wellness.

The fashion business, launched during the pandemic in 2020, focuses on Guyanese and West Indian culture, “highlighting a common culture we have, which, to me, is the ‘ragamuffin’ culture,” Aisha related in an interview with Pepperpot Magazine.

“The tagline is, Different Vibes, One Tribe’, and the slogan, which has been trademarked, is ‘Stay above the Lows’, [and] is targeted towards mental health wellness, and bringing more of a positive approach to such an issue through fashion and style,” she explained.

The store, Online for now, features an assortment called the Guyana Patriot Collection, with images that were taken by Aisha’s photography business, The’EyeART’. It highlights street life and the everyday life of a Guyanese in a “beautifully graphic way.”

The items in this collection are meant to be long-lasting wearable souvenirs that promote a sense of pride when promoting Guyana. As for the ‘tees’, Aisha said they do not easily wrinkle or tear, because of their quality. “So, it’s a forever piece, once you buy something from Raggarebel.”

Aisha aims to put out designs that are new and fresh every month, thus making them limited editions. “So, collectors and customers would have more value added to their purchase, should they decide to gift, trade or resell.”
Regarding her ‘White Sage’ business, Aisha said she sources her herbs from overseas, and wants to take the business to another level by looking to see if she can have them grown locally. However, she has to take into consideration the climate and other factors.

“I have a farm in California, and I ship in a fresh bundle every month to sell; I have it in different sizes, different blends,” she offered, noting that she learned about the value of the herbs through social media, and from interacting with people who use them.

EMPATHETIC
The struggles that Aisha has been dealing with motivated her to use her energies towards promoting good mental health. “I thought about what I wanted to leave behind as an artist. Being in a population with mental health being a great issue…I personally struggled with it, to the point of being suicidal, with multiple attempts that have failed.”

Thankfully, she is now at a place where she said she has more peace of mind than when she was a young adult. “I am very empathetic towards life and people, due to my own circumstances. I felt I needed to promote mental wellness through something, and I started doing so through fashion. I felt like if we don’t find a way to alter the mindset of our young people, and help nourish their mental health, we’re going to lose [them],” she expressed.

Recently, Aisha lost her mother, Paulette Paul, a former radio personality and retired PRO of the University of Guyana. Naturally, her passing especially took a toll on Aisha’s mental well-being, as it was always just the two of them. “I was her only child, and we were living together. This year has been the most challenging. Dealing with the emotions of being without her, and stepping up to be a full adult and taking over everything…”

Aisha has struggled with her mental health since she was a child. “I was not sure of who I was supposed to be. Dealing with society’s view of my sexuality, and then going through it with my mom…My mom and I have been through a lot in terms of her seeing me for me, and then having to re-love who I really am, and not her idea or her expectations of me. I am really proud of the fact that we were able to grow through it, and were at a good place; a much more peaceful place, when she died.”

To top it off, Aisha said she was also dealing with a toxic relationship for several years. She did a lot of self-counselling, and it was the year 2020 when she felt like she was able to regain her balance, and take control of her life.