A young designer’s call for greater Unity in Guyana’s fashion Industry.

GUYANA’S fashion and designing landscape is growing, with numerous new events having taken off in the last year, and a whole host of others slated for this year. However, some local, young designers are making the call for something that is imperative to the success of any field – collaboration.

Designer, entrepreneur, and mother, El-faatyma Alexander, is a talented seamstress and designer whose work has gained attention at local markets and events, but the goal, she says, is to have her pieces featured on a runway. Like so many other young creatives, El-faatyma is making the call for more collaboration, not just among established designers, but with newcomers too.

Born in the community of Kwakwani, El-faatyma, moved to Berbice during her childhood, and now lives on the East Bank of Georgetown. Creativity, however, has followed her throughout each chapter. “I design clothes, do alterations, sew, crochet, and make accessories,” she explained. “That’s the heart of El-faatyma’s Unique Creations.”

Her journey started in childhood, crafting clothes not for people at first, but for dolls. “I started making clothes when I was a kid. I’d sew little outfits for my dolls. When I got older, I just kept doing it,’ she shared.  The foundation for her creativity came from family. “My grandmother inspired me. She used to sew and knit too,” she said. “She showed me the basics, like how to make a chain in crochet, and I developed from there.”

At 18, El-faatyma decided to take things more seriously. A local seamstress who used to sew her school uniforms became her mentor. “I asked her to teach me, and she agreed. That’s how it all began.” Now 28, her journey has been anything but linear. After getting married at 21 and becoming a mother, she had to pause her creative work. “I stopped for a while after I had my daughter,” she said. “Then I started back, stopped again when I had my son at 25, and started again. It’s been on and off, but I’ve been back at it consistently for the past four years.”

Balancing motherhood and business has not always been easy, but El-faatyma credits her strong support system. “My kids’ father helps a lot, he’s very hands-on. It’s real teamwork,” she said. Still, challenges persist, especially in expanding her design knowledge. “One challenge was not knowing how to make certain styles. That’s why I went to Carnegie School of Home Economics last year. I already knew a lot, but I wanted to learn more, and I did.” This is why she says collaboration is needed.

Her time at Carnegie gave her the boost she needed. “I learned how to install pockets and refine my garment construction. It gave me a big boost.”  Today, she mostly focuses on alterations, though her heart is in original design. “Even though I have more knowledge, I usually design my own clothes and put them on display instead of making custom orders.”

El-faatyma’s crocheted pieces gain the most traction, with many people being captivated by the creativity and hard work required to make the pieces. However, creating crochet pieces is a labour of love. “A full crochet dress could take about a week, or longer if it’s a tighter stitch. If it’s a looser pattern, it takes less time. But it depends, I’m also a mom, so I can’t always focus on pieces at home,” she shared.

Her crochet designs, ranging from dresses to accessories, are mostly one-of-a-kind. “People support the sewing and alteration part of the business a lot; those are everyday needs,” she said. “Crochet orders come more around special occasions, vacations, or events like the UncappeD Market,” El-faatyma added.  She also experiments with mixed materials. “I design bags using denim and add crochet patches and patterns to them, those are my own concepts too.”

Despite her talent, El-faatyma is still waiting for her big fashion moment. “I haven’t done any fashion shows, only the WE Lift Exhibition hosted by the Ministry of Human Services,” she added, “I don’t know how to get into fashion shows. That’s a big challenge.” Highlighting a major hurdle that many young designers advocate around, El-faatyma stated that information about fashion events and opportunities is hard to find. “Fashion events aren’t advertised the way programmes like UncappeD or the WE Lift Exhibition are,” she explained. “If there were public fashion showcases with open entry, more designers like me could participate.”

She believes this is where collaboration and inclusivity could make all the difference. “We need a public fashion platform in Guyana,” she emphasised, “Something like the UncappeD Market, but for fashion design. That way it’s fair and open,” she added. The call, she said, is not just for herself, but for the broader creative community. “We need more collaboration among designers in Guyana. It would really help the fashion landscape grow.” Most of El-faatyma’s designs are posted on her Facebook page, though she’s also active on WhatsApp, Instagram, and TikTok.

From childhood creations to unique crochet and custom designs, El-faatyma Alexander continues to build her brand, stitch by stitch, while calling for a more united and visible fashion community in Guyana.