Primed for Success Volume 3

Fashioning A Dream Into Reality

When thinking about fashion, places like New York, London, and Paris come to mind.But within what was once labeled the poorest country in the world, a burgeoning fashion industry lies; one that invokes axioms like “glamour”, “couture”, and “avant garde”. Haiti - a country known for its enthralling artwork and flamboyant surroundings, is rapidly becoming a place where it’s instinctive talent can be seen to manifest in an expanding Haitian fashion industry.

On any given day, a diversity of fashions can be seen, regardless of the time of day, or day of the week. From children in uniforms with colourful hair accessories, to men and women in decked out in their Sunday best making their way to church. At the centre of this veritable industry is Haiti’s own David André. Educated in one of the country’s most prestigious fashion design schools, Académie Verona d’Haiti in Pétion-Ville, the 35-year-old studied design, fabrics, sketching, and pattern making. In 1998, while studying, David’s business had very modest beginnings, but his passion was limitless. “I started with nothing big in my pocket or in my account. I bought my first sewing machine and had one employee,” David shared. “Now, I have plenty of machines, 10 employees, and a very good clientele list.” David admits that it took him a while to find his niche, noting that he first wanted to produce haute couture, but then realized that this was not for Haiti, particularly in the late 1990’s. “I decided to focus on ready-to-wear cottons and linens because it was less expensive, and more suited to our tropical environment. I became focused on delivering quality at an affordable price.” Today, his company produces and sells custom design clothing for men and women, along with a unisex beachwear line, and wedding pieces, which can be found in boutiques in Haiti, the Dominican Republic, Martinique and Guadeloupe. David also designs costumes for dance companies and music troupes as a part of his portfolio; and showcased in a number of regional and international fashion weeks including the Dominican Republic, Jamaica, Trinidad, Bahamas, Martinique, New York, Toronto, Paris, and Berlin.

David André ‘s relationship with the Caribbean Export Development Agency began in 2009. “I was approached by the Agency to attend Dominicana Moda as one of six designers to exhibit in the Caribbean Designers Showcase.” Since then, David’s company has also been chosen to participate in Caribbean Fashion Week held in Jamaica, the European Study Tour to France, Germany and the United Kingdom, and London Engage during the Summer Olympics. “Caribbean Export has been a tremendous resource and a major supporter of the regional fashion industry, especially here in Haiti. Each initiative I’ve been involved in has proven beneficial, but the most impactful has been the Study Tour to Europe. I was able to meet with other regional designers and engage with international counterparts.” David credits the Agency with exposing his business to international markets and the requirements for these markets. “Caribbean Export took me to places and events that I would’ve never afforded to visit or attend on my own. Even though I was not able to secure clients, I now have a better understanding of what is expected and I believe that with the right support, I can successfully penetrate these markets.” Acknowledging that it is a work in progress, David wants to educate Haitians on the quality fashion that local designers create. “Growing up in Haiti, most people bought their clothes from boutiques that import from the US and the UK, but today Haitians have their own sense of style and this augurs well for local designers like me who have something unique to offer on the way to building the Haitian brand.”

Primed for Success / Vol. 3 / 2014-2015

www.carib-export.com

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