JOY Washington is a Guyanese who came from very humble beginnings and who defied the odds of hardship. With a leap of faith and determination, she was destined to make a name for herself.
Today, she is recognised worldwide for her work as a creative fashion designer.
Washington grew up in Springlands, Corentyne, Berbice, Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne) and is the fifth child of nine siblings.
She came from a simple home where her parents were working-class people. Her mother was a seamstress in the village, known for her excellent sewing skills.
The seamstress made all her children’s school clothes and also did the same for others in the community, and back then, late into the night when there was no electricity.
And when her mother had to sew, Washington used to stay up with her and stand by her as she pedalled the old-fashioned sewing machine with a little oil lamp in her hand, so her mother could see to thread the needle and continue sewing way after dark.
“I was so happy doing this because Mum and I were very close since I was the oldest daughter at home at that time. I saw it as our time together, and I envisioned myself becoming someone like her,” she said.
However, something happened when Washington was nine years old: her mother suddenly passed away.
Recalling that day, she told Pepperpot Magazine that it was the hardest day in her life since she did not just lose her mother, who was also her only dear friend and teacher.
After that, Washington had to go live with her grandmother, and she decided to let her take sewing classes right in the village to equip her with a life skill.
Washington stated that over time she developed a great love for sewing and drawing, and at 15 years old, she began teaching her friends at school how to sew and design.
However, in 1975 she left Guyana and migrated to Holland, where she began working in sewing factories, but that was not enough for her, since she knew in her heart she wanted more.
In 1992, she decided to explore the possibilities and went to London to work, study, and live to build her career in the fashion industry.
Washington told Pepperpot Magazine that in 1993 she decided to go to college in London, where she studied creative fashion design and was awarded a certificate in that field after successfully completing her studies.
Washington added that in 1996 she opened a small dressmaking store on High Street, London, until 1999, after which she returned to her homeland, Guyana.
Once she came home, she found work in the local fashion industry, and in 2000, she did some styling for television shows.
She reported that as her creative fashion design career accelerated, she got work doing some organised on-stage fashion shows, and she loved it.
Washington disclosed that between 2002 and 2005, she began teaching fashion, modelling, and design at the Burrowes School of Arts in Guyana.
While in Guyana, she resides at Kururu along the Soesdyke/Linden Highway, but has her family roots in Berbice, her place of birth, which remains a part of her life.
The Guyanese-born creative fashion designer is also a naturalised Dutch citizen of Holland, and she often divides her time, life, and career between Guyana and Holland.
Washington pointed out that in Holland, she has established herself as a freelance businesswoman, fashion designer, and founder/producer of Joy Washington Creative Fashion Magazine.
She is widely known for her work in the local fashion industry, with her career highlights including the launch of her own fashion line.
Her work has been recognised within Guyana’s regional fashion scene, with launches in 2010 attended by a wide audience and supported by others in the local fashion industry.
Washington is very passionate about passing on her knowledge to others and will continue to contribute to Guyana via her teachings at the recognised Burrowes School of Arts for as long as she can.
