WHEN Melissa Wilson relocated to Georgetown from Linden, Region 10, it was with one sole purpose in mind: to make use of all opportunities to make herself marketable and to establish her own businesses in fashion and as an entrepreneur.

The 26-year-old related that ever since she was a girl, she always toyed with scissors. She would take apart pieces of her own clothing and fix them to her liking.
At that time, she knew she had a unique style for fashion and liked to hand-stitch pieces of fabric to make cute outfits for herself.
She was able to take a bland skirt and transform it into her very own style, and as she matured into adulthood, that passion grew even more.

Wilson decided to take basic sewing classes in Linden for three months, and with the knowledge garnered, she managed to enhance her sewing skills.
She is originally from Paradise Village, Berbice, but relocated to live with her mother in Amelia’s Ward, Linden. However, a year ago, she moved to the city to pursue her goals of tertiary education and to establish her small business.

Wilson shared with the Pepperpot Magazine her journey of becoming a seamstress and her brand of tote bags, some of which are hand-painted and outfitted with bows—Totes and Things.
The entrepreneur reported that her passion is to become a fashion designer, and she has been a part-time student at the Burrowes School of Art for the past year.
She stated that things began to come together in 2019 when she acquired an electric sewing machine. She started practising by putting together outfits for herself.

Once she improved her skills, she began taking in sewing jobs for customers, and it has since become a side hustle, operating from within the confines of her home in the city.
Wilson, a mild-mannered person who loves everything about fashion, pointed out that she was elated when she got an electric sewing machine, finally putting an end to her hand-stitching days.

Totes and Things
Meanwhile, during her classes at the Burrowes School of Art, one day, a classmate showed up with a tote bag. Wilson was impressed and enquired where she had gotten it.
She then expressed her desire to be able to make them from scratch, and her lecturer, who was present, volunteered to demonstrate how the pattern could be made.
From then on, Wilson had a lot of practice before mastering the art of cutting patterns and sewing the pieces together to make the ideal tote.

Her skills were further enhanced when fabric painting was introduced in the class, and she became familiar with mixing different shades of paint to achieve the right colours.
Wilson decided to hand-paint totes, and she was pleased with the outcome. The bags began selling like ‘hot cakes’, and thus, her small business, Totes and Things, was birthed five years ago.
She related that she came up with the name Totes and Things because she plans to incorporate other items, such as aprons and makeup bags, into the brand.

Wilson added that the hand-painted totes and those with bows cost $3,000 each, while the plain totes are $2,000 each and can be delivered for a fee of $500.
The businesswoman stated that some customers have requested zips on the totes for added security when carrying valuables, especially in the city.
“I will soon have a pickup location at City Mall, located on Regent and Camp Streets, Georgetown, third floor at Capture Studio, for customers,” she said.

The small business owner told Pepperpot Magazine that while growing up, one thing was certain—she had a passion for clothes, makeup, accessories, and shoes since her style was different from the usual fashion.
She explained that her mother used to say, “Girl, I cannot trust you with a pair of scissors,” which became an inside joke among family members.

“The first time I sold a tote, the customer called to say her mother loved the birthday gift and wears it everywhere, while a teacher told me it was the best buy ever. That made me happy about producing a product that serves its purpose,” Wilson said.
Her goal is to see someone wearing her tote in public; it would be the ultimate fulfilment of producing a local product that is both durable and of good quality.

Wilson noted that she would like to see her small business expand in a way that offers exclusivity to big companies and businesses, allowing them to personalise totes with their logos for events and other occasions as keepsakes.
She stated that the totes are versatile, and she would redesign them in different ways to offer the same functionality but with a unique look for customer satisfaction.

Personal Development
Looking back at her practice days, it is safe to say she has come a long way in terms of personal development, having adopted an attitude of gratitude and making use of every opportunity that presents itself.
Wilson disclosed that she is currently pursuing a bachelor’s degree in art through the online GOAL programme, and it happened at the right time.

“City people are not aware of the opportunities they have, unlike those living in outlying areas such as Linden, where jobs and opportunities for personal development are usually limited and sparse,” she said.

Wilson told Pepperpot Magazine that she worked various jobs in Linden to earn a living, but the meagre wages were not enough. She, therefore, decided to move to Georgetown to realise her dreams of establishing her businesses and fulfilling her educational needs to become sustainable.

The businesswoman highlighted that the transition was not too difficult because it provided her with what she wanted—opportunities—and for that, she is thankful. She knew she had to make it work.

Wilson stated that she also worked at two different call centres in the city, but at that time, she was not in a good place mentally and suffered a breakdown, which forced her to quit in order to regain her mental stability.

Today, she is a better person—fulfilling her dreams, hopes, and aspirations. She is more relaxed and enjoys creating totes, especially hand-painted ones, when she is in the right environment—Botanical Gardens, her oasis for staying focused and driven.