— Origins panellists say Guyana must shift from individual success stories to building a sustainable creative industry.

GUYANA’S fashion industry must move beyond celebrating individual designers and shift its focus to building sustainable businesses, strengthening technical skills and embracing collaboration in order to become a recognised creative force regionally and internationally.
This was the central message expressed by leading designers during Saturday’s Origins: Guyana Fashion Festival panel discussion.
Held on the festival’s second day at the Railway Courtyard, the discussion brought together industry leaders Keisha Edwards, Cherisa Samuels, Mwanza Glenn, Delayna Scott and Damian Moore, who explored how Guyana can convert the momentum and success of events such as Origins into a thriving industry that creates jobs and lasting opportunities.
Edwards described the festival as an opportunity to strengthen both the fashion sector and the people within it through business-focused training and mentorship. She said the workshops, which covered branding, customer engagement and business development, are helping designers understand what it takes to build sustainable enterprises rather than simply producing garments.
Reflecting on the opening night’s runway presentations, she praised the variety of collections and the overall execution of the show, while noting that there is still room for improvement in technical finishing.
Speaking on what success means within the industry, Edwards said it extends beyond personal achievements, explaining that a healthy fashion industry should create opportunities for everyone, from pattern drafters and seamstresses to quality control specialists.
Stressing the importance of partnerships, she said: “A lot of the time, you cannot see the value in the person next to you; where they are today is not where they will be five years from now.”
Botswana-based Guyanese designer Delayna Scott, who has built an international career after leaving Guyana as a teenager, said Origins is providing an important platform for experienced designers to mentor emerging talent.
She encouraged young creatives to remain patient, passionate and committed to the process of building their careers rather than chasing overnight success.
Scott said genuine success comes when creativity develops into a thriving business that creates employment, earns customers’ trust and gains recognition.
Returning to Guyana as an established designer made the experience particularly meaningful, she noted, as it represented recognition from her homeland after years of building her career abroad.
Reflecting on how she achieved that success, Scott credited teamwork and partnerships across the creative industry, noting: “Collaborating does not have to mean another designer; it can be a photographer, a stylist or a make-up artist. I can be a great designer and a terrible stylist, so having that team helps build the brand.”
Designer and educator Damian Moore said this year’s festival demonstrates that Guyana is making meaningful progress within the regional fashion industry, particularly through its emphasis on capacity building.
He noted that the workshops have exposed participants to new technical skills and business opportunities beyond fashion designing, allowing creatives to explore different career paths within the sector.
He said recent support through regional cultural grants has strengthened his commitment to helping others develop their careers.
Moore further noted that collaboration, rather than competition, is essential to the growth of Guyana’s fashion industry, stating: “We need to build each other up, develop this sector together. And if you do not trust the person you are working with, get a contract. Draft it, sign it, and let that paperwork protect you both.”
Fashion designer Mwanza Glenn described the festival’s emphasis on capacity building as one of its greatest strengths.
Citing aspects of the workshops, from learning how to market effectively across different social media platforms to improving branding and product presentation, Glenn said the sessions have encouraged designers to pay closer attention to the finer details of running a successful business.
He explained that success is not simply about personal recognition but is also about building a brand that can meet international standards.
Moreover, Glenn noted that the goal is for customers to recognise the brand before they recognise the designer, while ensuring that every garment is professionally produced, packaged and ready for export.
Glenn added that collaboration works only when designers are confident in their own abilities while respecting what others bring to the table, adding: “A true collaboration should complement, not compete. I work with you because I respect what you bring, and it adds to what I’m bringing to the table.”
For Cherisa Samuels, the festival has highlighted not only the talent within Guyana’s fashion community, but also the willingness of emerging designers to learn.
She said watching participants receive advice from more experienced creatives and apply it to improve their presentations was one of the highlights of the event.
Samuels believes lasting success goes far beyond the runway, explaining that a strong fashion brand should create jobs and provide career opportunities.
Looking ahead, Samuels urged Guyanese creatives to embrace a culture of co-operation rather than competition.
As she shared: “I cannot see success without collaboration; it creates opportunities beyond your own industry. We need to move away from the crab-in-a-barrel mentality and put egos aside. We each have different niches. How can my strength benefit someone else?”
Throughout the discussion, all panellists reinforced that Guyana possesses the creativity and talent to build a thriving fashion industry, but sustained growth will depend on continued investment in skills development, mentorship and collaboration.