Rhaj Paul – The Tailor & Designer

Barbadian tailor and designer, Rhaj Paul is widely known on the island for his signature style and tailored outfits that incorporate distinctive features.

As a designer, Rhaj has also experienced success with his striking t-shirt designs that feature clean typography, with inspirational themes or Bajan colloquialisms.

Quality, precision, and originality go into each creation by Rhaj and the demand for his work has grown consistently over the years. His designs have also trended on social media, with regional influencers proudly wearing their Rhaj Paul t-shirt designs.

More recently, Rhaj has shown the agility of his skill in response to COVID-19 and has added tailored masks to his catalogue of designs.

Quality Conscious Style

Rhaj’s love of style and originality is apparent in his work and whilst he describes his personal style as “Street Chic”, he has a clear vision of his ideal customer and ensures the craftsmanship that goes into his creations are designed specifically for this target audience, whom he describes as “A quality conscious gentleman with a keen sense of style.”

An International Vision

As a designer based in the Caribbean, Rhaj is confident in the region’s ability to make a global impact.

“The Caribbean fashion industry has a lot to give the world. We bring a unique perspective on fashion and execution, and I am pleased to be a part of that dynamic.”

His goal for his own work is to have an international presence. Specifically, in Senegal, France and the United Kingdom.

A Ministry of Style

Rhaj’s passion for bringing his ideas to life is a key motivator for the designer. The skill, quality and originality that goes into each piece has created a solid foundation for Rhaj and attracted a style-conscious clientele.

With his impressive portfolio and growing popularity over the years, he has proven his work has filled a niche for those who are not afraid to stand out and make a statement with their style.

A Family Brand

Elle and Edranelle Heyliger are siblings from Grenada who discovered their love of creating their own looks from a young age.

Having learned from a young age to improvise with their own wardrobes, the sisters were motivated to take sewing lessons and as a result, came together to form their own company specialising in custom designs.

The Brand

Initially known as Elle.gnd, the sisters recently rebranded their company to DrielleDranelle, but despite the new name, their goal is the same – for their customers to look good and feel good.

Over their five years of operations, Elle and Edranelle have attracted a clientele who require custom pieces ranging from day wear to evening wear for special occasions such as proms and graduations.

The popularity of their custom designs has proven the sisters have found a niche market and put them on the path towards developing their own line of ready-to-wear fashion their customers can purchase from retailers.

Their creative talents also extend to interior designs and a soft furnishings line is also within their plans for DrielleDranelle.

Eyes on the Fashion Pulse

With their sights firmly set on expanding their brand, Elle and Edranelle are conscious of regional fashion trends and developments within the industry.

“Caribbean people have become more aware of their heritage and uniqueness in culture, so upcoming trends may very well pay homage to this.”

Ethical fashion is also one on their radar as they predict that clothing with biodegradable material will be a large part in the development of Caribbean fashion.

The DrielleDranelle Muse

Both Elle and Edranelle admit their personal style is simple, yet they have a keen eye for detail and enjoy making a fashion statement when they create original pieces for themselves and their customers.

Iconic women such as Michelle Obama and Beyonce are among the Heyliger sisters’ inspiration when it comes to style and their work ethic. The Kardashian sisters are also a source of creative inspiration for Elle and Edranelle’s designs.

Showcasing their Talents

At the beginning of 2020, the sisters achieved their proudest moment since the inception of their brand. The sisters collaborated with fellow fashion professionals, including a well-known local model and industry photographer to host an event showcasing the best parties in Grenada.

Elle and Edranelle not only contributed to the wardrobe for the event, they were also heavily involved in model preparation and makeup.

The positive feedback they received following the event, gave them a holistic appreciation for their craft and enhanced their creative skills even further.

The Future for DrielleDranelle

Having made an impact locally in fashion, the sisters have a clear vision for their future.

Elle and Edranelle’s goal for their brand DrielleDranelle, is to become a household name in fashion, beauty, costume design and interior design.

As a team of creatives who have designed many unique creations, their plans to offer a ready-to-wear fashion line will increase access to their brand for a larger clientele:

“Our ideal customer is a woman that knows what she wants but is not afraid to take risks, therefore leaving room for creativity and experimentation. She is also confident and holds herself to a high standard in all aspects of life.”

With five years as a brand in the industry and a growing clientele, DrielleDranelle is sure to become the household name they envision.

The Designer

Kimya Glasgow is an avid student of fashion. Honing her artistic talents since childhood, Kimya showed natural talent with her sketches of clothing and accessories.

Born in St. Vincent and The Grenadines, Kimya spent her early years in Trinidad and Tobago and later went on to study in Barbados where she achieved an Associate Degree in Fashion Design.

Kimya’s experience as a student of art and fashion design has led to a process that includes her detailed research on the elements which inspire her to make her ideas come to life.

As a true Caribbean native, the rich culture and art from the region are a source of inspiration for Kimya as a designer for her own line of clothing and accessories.

The Brand

Kimya Glasgow, the brand, is the natural evolution of her love and dedication for fashion which is guided by a mission to create high quality products that includes resort wear, swimwear, soft furnishings and accessories.

Sustainability is a core feature woven into her brand’s mission, with Kimya’s preference for natural fibres that are eco-friendly and durable. Ethical fashion is particularly important due to the threat of climate change and the Kimya Glasgow brand can be highlighted as a leader in this effort with their focus on using biodegradable materials.

Many of her creations include unique touches such as hand-paintings and hand-beading. She particularly enjoys creating designs with contrasting elements. In one of her designs, Kimya combined fabric with European and African features.

“My favourite part [as a designer] is the research and then developing ideas from inspiration. Often taking things that seem to have nothing to do with each other, like when I mixed English garden florals and Dutch-African wax prints and found a way to make them work together.”

Kimya Glasgow’s International Presence

Over the years, Kimya has embraced the opportunity to promote her award winning brand overseas. Runway shows have given the Kimya Glasgow brand international exposure with her pieces featured at regional fashion events in Barbados, Grenada, Jamaica, Mustique, Trinidad & Tobago and St. Kitts. The brand has also featured their collection outside of the Caribbean in Miami and New York, which is widely acknowledged as the mecca for fashion in the United States.

A Digitally Savvy Brand

The Kimya Glasgow brand can be found online via their website and social media channels.

The website is a strong marketing and sales channel with an ecommerce platform for online retail of their products and an e-mail subscription feature to keep their audience informed of any updates. Distributors can also use the website, which can be viewed in english, spanish and french, to approach the brand for wholesale opportunities.

The Future of Kimya Glasgow

The Kimya Glasgow brand has shown no signs of slowing down. In 2019 the designer launched her own fragrance, Kimya Glasgow Vanilla Orchid in collaboration with Martiniquan perfumer, Parfum Des Iles. Kimya is particularly proud of this achievement which has complemented the company’s product offer as a lifestyle brand.

The award winning designer has proven her ability to acknowledge consumer needs with her range of products. Kimya has also shown she can adapt to their habits with the Kimya Glasgow website and social media channels. These digital platforms play an important role in providing the brand with an opportunity for greater exposure and access to international consumers.

The journey of Kimya’s lifestyle company, along with her clear focus on her goals for an ethical brand of casual, yet elegant products puts this Caribbean brand at an advantage for longevity.

The Brand

The dragonfly is known for its kaleidoscope of brilliant iridescent colours and in Japan is a symbol of courage, strength and happiness.

This beautiful creature is also a distinct feature in the logo for Designs by Nadia and an appropriate representation of the brand’s handcrafted jewellery and clientele.

Founded by Nadia Jabour, the Jewellery brand Designs by Nadia is characterised by brilliant, often iridescent colours, and naturally occurring variations, much like the dragonfly.

Each collection is made with elements found in the Caribbean such as coconut, scented cedarwood, natural seeds and scales from the tarpon fish, found in the mangroves of Guyana.

The natural elements used in each collection require specific processes to prepare them to be intricately crafted into a piece of jewellery designed by Nadia. The formation of these raw materials means that no two pieces are the same and every item has unique features for each client.

Based in Rodney Bay, St. Lucia, which is a popular tourist destination and known for its world-class marina, Designs by Nadia is perfectly situated to offer their collection of unique pieces to both locals and visitors to the island.

A Reputable Caribbean Jeweller

As a Caribbean company that has been in existence for over 10 years and located in a popular tourist destination, the longevity of the company has proven that Designs by Nadia is a valuable brand with products that appeal to a global clientele.

One of Nadia’s proudest achievements has taken her overseas to represent her company and St. Lucia. The event, which was held at Buckingham Palace in the United Kingdom featured regional designers from the Commonwealth. Designs by Nadia was the perfect representative to showcase their handcrafted jewellery with authentic and natural Caribbean materials.

Designs by Nadia in a Digital Space

As the retail world has shifted to ecommerce, Designs by Nadia has also adjusted its operations and embraced online channels to promote and sell their products.

This has opened up more opportunities for international exposure and clients.

The company’s website is designed for easy browsing of the various collections, news updates and purchase with an international shipping option. There is even a function where the customer can select and compare pieces before making a final decision to purchase.

Wholesalers can also register their interest via the company website.

A Wealth of Caribbean Creativity

Throughout her years as the head designer of her jewellery company and having the opportunity to promote her company within the region, Nadia has seen the potential for the industry as a whole. With an abundance of creative individuals from the Caribbean, she would like to see her fellow designers receive regional support and more exposure.

As an experienced designer, Nadia’s attention to detail as a creative and business owner is a good template for designers from the region who would like to achieve similar success.

For her own brand, Nadia’s goals to be internationally known as a Caribbean Jewellery designer are on the right track to making this a reality.

The Brand

Tasha & Tianne Fashions is a clothing and accessory brand by Jamaican designer Simone Gordon.

The fashion pieces created under the Tasha & Tianne Fashions brand include tailored clothing and accessories with bold, colourful fabric prints and leather. All of which are personally handmade by Simone.

A Third Generation Designer

Simone’s role as a designer could be described as destiny. Having grown up with her mother and grandmother who were dressmakers, she was witness to their creations and personal style from a young age.

These childhood experiences, and living in an environment rich in colour were valuable sources of inspiration that have contributed to her passion in designing the pieces she creates for Tasha & Tianne Fashions.

A Multifaceted Brand

When scrolling through the official Tasha & Tianne Fashions’ Instagram page, Simone’s skill as a designer are displayed in its various forms. Tailored jackets, asymmetric dresses, necklaces, bracelets and more recently masks with matching accessories, all make up the pieces available.

“My favorite part of being a designer is taking a piece of fabric and turning it into a work of art.”

African-inspired fabric prints and vibrant colours are elements that feature in many of the designs that are tailored to complement the female frame. The accessories also add an eye-catching burst of colour that can enhance a casual outfit.

Whilst Simone would describe her own personal style as “simple, uncomplicated, comfortable and free”, her ideal customer is a lady who likes to stand out from the crowd in the most beautiful and unique way. Tasha & Tianne Fashions are intentionally created to stand out.

The Future of Caribbean Fashion

As a Caribbean designer, Simone is optimistic that the fashion industry in the region will grow, based on the passion of her fellow creative designers who have made significant progress with little funding.

Her own goal is to expand the production of her brand so that Tasha & Tianne Fashions is available in international retail stores. She would also like to open her own local showroom with her pieces.

The eye-catching clothing and accessories designed by Simone have been featured in the press and local runway shows. As an established designer in Jamaica, Tasha & Tianne Fashions can be recognised as a local fashion brand with the potential for international success.

Simone’s natural talent and passion for fashion are the perfect formula for Tasha & Tianne’s longevity in the Caribbean fashion industry.

I last wrote on the now Organisation of African, Caribbean and Pacific States (OACPS)-European Union (EU) post-Cotonou negotiations on June 17 following the meeting of the lead negotiators, EU International Partnerships Commissioner Jutta Urpilainen and the OACPS’ Minister Robert Dussey of Togo, on June 12. At that time, the lead negotiators were anticipating the conclusion of the negotiations by the end of July and were planning to meet again before the end of June.

The negotiations continued, and I saw the EU Parliament weighing in to indicate that the members expected the institutional framework to continue having a role for the joint OACPS-EU Parliamentary Assembly. We saw that under the revised OACPS Georgetown Agreement, the OACPS will have its own formal Parliamentary Assembly.

It was necessary for the OACPS to have a meeting of its Ministerial Council to review the post-Cotonou negotiations, among other things. This meeting was held virtually on July 28, chaired by Gambia. The ministers approved negotiating texts and provided guidance to negotiators. The Council of the OACPS Caribbean Forum (CARIFORUM) met prior to this meeting.

It appears that the lead negotiators met during July. The negotiations clearly were not concluded in July and will now continue in September after the customary August summer break.

This extension, it seems, was due, among other things, to outstanding sensitive human rights and migration issues still to be resolved, which, in some news reports, are seen as primarily between the EU and Africa, although they also apply to the Caribbean and the Pacific. Note, too, that the EU and Africa are still consulting on the EU’s new Africa Strategy, which it is still hoping will be adopted at a summit with Africa in Brussels in October, COVID-19 permitting.

In an article reproduced on the AllAfrica news website, a European Commission spokesperson is quoted as informing that the text of the new post-Cotonou agreement is 95 per cent completed. It was noted, however, that the last five per cent could pose the most difficulties.

As I previously mentioned, the 2000 Cotonou Partnership Agreement (CPA), which should have expired in February, was extended to December 31. The new timetable is now indicating that the post-Cotonou negotiations will not be concluded until about November. You may recall that the signing ceremony is to be held in Samoa, which now may not happen until mid-2021. This means that the CPA will be further extended to facilitate conclusion of the negotiations and the procedures for signature of the new agreement.

The New EU Budget

Tanzania assumed the six-month presidency of the OACPS and chair of the Committee of Ambassadors on August 1 and is now expecting to oversee this final phase of the post-Cotonou negotiations.

The EU’s new long-term budget, 2021-2027, was finally approved at a marathon EU Council Meeting, July 17-21. It included financing for the EU’s COVID-19 Recovery Plan.

It is reported that developmental non-governmental organisations are concerned about the provisions for overseas development assistance. Recall that the European Development Fund, from which the OACPS was funded, is now incorporated into the Neighbourhood, Development and International Cooperation Instrument. There is concern that this could put OACPS financing at risk.

The departing EU ambassador to Jamaica, Malgorzata Wasilewska, in an interview with The Gleaner published on July 28, gave the assurance that EU aid allocations to the Caribbean, including Jamaica, would not be reduced, especially in light of COVID-19. I hope this will hold true for Jamaica and the rest of the CARIFORUM member states under the EU’s new budget arrangements and the new OACPS-EU agreement.

The Caribbean OACPS Negotiating Team

There will be personnel changes in CARIFORUM. Guyana and Jamaica are the CARIFORUM representatives on the OACPS Central Negotiating Committee. Following the protracted issuing of general election results in Guyana, the opposition People’s Progressive Party was declared the winner. The new president, Mr Irfaan Ali, has appointed Mr Hugh Todd as the minister of foreign affairs. General elections are now also due in Jamaica on September 3.

Suriname assumed the chair of CARIFORUM on July 1 for one year. General elections were held in Suriname on May 25, which also led to a change of government. As of July 16, the new minister of foreign affairs, international business and international politics is Mr Albert Ramdin, who is a seasoned diplomat, having also served in both the CARICOM and OAS Secretariats. Thus Suriname will oversee the Caribbean’s participation in this final stage of the negotiations.

Come September-October, we will have a better indication of the schedule for the conclusion of these negotiations. At this time, we will, hopefully, also have a summary of the key provisions of the agreement, particularly from the Caribbean protocol.

This article which was originally published by the Jamaica Gleaner was submitted by Elizabeth Morgan, Specialist in International Trade Policy and International Politics.

The global video game industry reached one of its highest scores due to the COVID-19 pandemic. As countries around the globe went into lockdown mode, the demand for gaming went up!

And according to founder and CEO of the Powell Group, Jay Powell, some publishers within the industry saw a 500% increase in revenue during the first few months of lockdown! This was definitely a massive win for the industry, which Mr. Powell estimates is already valued at 90 billion dollars.

“This sounds horrible to say, but COVID has been really good for the video game industry. Obviously when everyone is confined at home they aren’t going out. And television and movie production basically stopped, so we have seen a gigantic influx of money into the gaming industry,” Mr. Powell said.

The 20-year expert made this point during a webinar organized by the Caribbean Export Development Agency and the United Kingdom Trade Partnership (UKTP) Project.

Speaking on the topic Opportunities for the Gaming Industry – Present and Future Trends, Mr. Powell outlined steps that Caribbean game developers could take to help them reach the next level in the global industry. The advice couldn’t come at a better time as Caribbean Export and UKTP are providing assistance to regional gamers so they could participate in IndieGamesBusiness – The San Francisco Summer Edition 2020, the longest running virtual matchmaking event in the game industry.
Mr. Powell, who runs a full service consultancy in the United States (US) which helps developers, publishers and other industry players to grow and succeed in the world of video games, gave several recommendations aimed at developing the Caribbean’s industry.

1. Strengthen The Caribbean’s Ecosystem

In the quest to advance the regional game industry, Mr. Powell strongly recommended that Caribbean gamers, whether they functioned as freelancers or companies, needed to come together and represent themselves as a regional bloc. Noting that governmental support was a huge help, he stressed that collaboration and association were even more critical to establishing a Caribbean gaming ecosystem.

“Do anything you can do to be working together, to be communicating and to know each other exist. You are going to get a much better effect for the region as a whole,” he suggested.

Admitting this could be a challenge as industry players were located in different islands, he added, “Do meet ups, work with the International Game Developers Association (IGDA), have that communication pipeline together and work together to build each other’s strengthens and misses. These are absolutely key for getting some bigger contracts in and getting interest and recognition from outside the region.”

He also advised trade organizations to play a critical role in promoting the Caribbean as a regional bloc especially at trade shows. “You are not going to be able to grow internally. You got to get your studios [and different gaming companies] in front the rest of the world. Help them to be promoted as an entire region at these shows, it will get them in front more companies and it’s much more cost effective,” he said.

2. Set Up A Discord Server

Mr. Powell urged industry players who were creating their own games to set up a Discord server. The free mobile and desktop app primarily used by gamers around the world facilitates instant messaging, VoIP (voice calling via the app) and digital distribution which are all perfect for building game communities.

“If you are creating your own game right now, you need to get it up and going.”

3. Sign up to digital conferences and trade shows

The industry expert said there was an argument that the lack of physical trade shows caused by COVID-19 would be detrimental for independent game developers. Disagreeing with that view, he said: “The digital conference space is an absolute plus for you to have access to.”

Not only are they more cost effective, he said they were great for intelligence gathering and networking. He advised participants to find out who was attending or speaking beforehand so they could set targets and book strategic meetings.

“Digital conferences are fantastic opportunities for you as developers and for folks who are trying to get into the industry or even to learn about the industry. When it comes to these digital events it is very easy to just sit down and do basic research even before you get to the meetings. You can go through the attendees and figure out who you should be talking to.”

4. Regional Gaming Courses should include a Business Component

Mr. Powell strongly advised that a wholistic approach be taken to regional video game education and certification. “If the schools are teaching art, code and anything else with the objective of giving a video game certificate, they need to absolutely include at least a course on business, marketing and production,” he outlined.

The expert stressed that beyond having the skills to design a video game, it was equally necessary to know how to sell. He argued that countries may be “turning out fantastic artists, but if those artists don’t know how to sell their work, and they don’t know how to approach the industry from a business standard or get in front of the right people who are hiring them, it won’t do them any good.”

5. Going to market requires self-promotion & creating a community

“If you are building the entire game yourself, hope for the best but plan for the worst. You have to assume you are not going to get a publisher and you will have to do this on your own.” That’s the advice Mr. Powell gave to Caribbean developers who are thinking of taking their games to market.

He urged them to aggressively promote their creations. “The minute that you have a screenshot, a gif, a video or anything visual to share, you need to be on social media: Instagram, Tik Tok, Facebook. Point all of that back to your Discord server because you as the developer need to start building your community… all the way from ‘here is my screenshot’ to when you are ready to talk to a publisher!”

Mr. Powell also recommended developers who wished to be taken seriously get a webpage, a business email and have a presence on LinkedIn. “Don’t send me an email from your gmail account. A legitimate company, that wants to be taken legitimately, needs to have a webpage and your email needs to come from the URL of that webpage.”

6. What to expect after pitching to a publisher

“You are ready to talk to a publisher once you have a demo to play!” Mr. Powell encouraged regional game developers to send their demos to everybody. However, he warned them that typically most publishers’ would respond by stating how wonderful the demo was and that they would like to see more. He told regional developers they should expect to repeatedly get this answer until someone signs.

“Don’t let it disturb you but more importantly, you can’t let it get you over excited because that is just what they do,” he warned.

Additionally, Mr. Powell urged developers to follow up weekly as there was a 30% response rate, however he cautioned that signing was generally a long process which could take up to 3 months or more.

7. For feedback the Internet is your best critic

Mr. Powell told game developers not to expect feedback from publishers and if they received any, it would most likely be from inde-publishers who had been through the gaming process.

If you want feedback, “you have to be careful with the whole friends and family bias. The internet is the best, its brutal. If people think it sucks, they are going to tell you they think it sucks. You got to have thick skin,” the video game industry expert stressed.

For honest feedback, he said to try sharing demos with IndeGame communities on Discord as well as streamers who liked to play IndeGames.

Mr. Powell also told independent developers who wished to post their games on Google Play: “Unless you got the marketing money and user acquisition money, it is just not going to get seen. There are so many games that get released every single day. I never recommend an ‘inde’ or small team that is unfunded to do a free to play mobile game.”

For PC games, he said developers should check Stream, Epic, GOG or Itch.io.

8. Capture outsource contracts by being original

Mr. Powell urged regional developers going after outsource contracts to demonstrate to potential clients that they have the experience and an understanding of the game industry. For those who just left school, he stressed that they highlight their passion and understanding of the industry.

But simply being original is even more critical to scoring an outsource contract. “You need something original to show because that is going to be what gets everybody interested. It is very important,” Mr. Powell said.

9. Target non-traditional markets

When it comes to attracting consumers, regional gamers should aim to have local presence but they should also cast their nets in non-traditional markets internationally. According to Mr. Powell, the Internet does not care where you are! In fact, he pointed out that markets were segmented more by language than anything else.

He lamented that people often went after the US and European markets and recommended that Caribbean developers consider targeting Latin America. “You got a huge market that for the most part is underserved… Most developers and publishers don’t think about Africa, they don’t think Latin America, they don’t think even about South-East Asia outside of China and Japan.”

The video game industry expert emphasized that there was potential within those non-traditional markets and further suggested they look at the United Arab Emirates where states like Dubai have a large segment of its population interested in gaming.

Caribbean Export Pledges to Support Regional Game Industry

Also speaking during the presentation was Allyson Francis, Services Specialist of Caribbean Export. She said saw the game industry as important and believed that there are vast opportunities for regional developers and other players globally. She pledged Caribbean Export’s continued support and disclosed that the next session would focus on the business and marketing of games.

The Caribbean Export Development Agency has been instrumental in providing technical assistance, business development support and access to finance to professionals within the industry who are seeking to export their talent and services.