Celebrated designer Michelle Cole is a ‘Special Person’

Mar 02, 2014 News

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 “My ultimate goal, ever since I was a teenager, is that one day my work will grace the runways of Paris…And trust me, it will happen.”

By Nigel McKenzie

It came as no surprise when news reached these shores, several days ago, that US-based Guyanese designer Michelle Cole, the owner of ColeFacts, has continued to make a considerable splash where it matters most.

Last Sunday, Michelle was recognized as ‘Fashion Designer of the Year’ at the Young, Gifted & Black (YGB) Entrepreneurial Awards in New York City.
The timing could not have been any better, as this youthful, supremely talented and conspicuously fashionable visionary has always been on our ‘Special Person’ radar.
The YGB programme honours “African-American & Caribbean professionals who are the “unsung heroes” within their communities”, and nothing more aptly describes Michelle Cole. She is quite unassuming, and prefers to work tirelessly “behind-the-scenes” in her quest for perfection.
Anyone with remote knowledge of the career pursuit which is fashion design would appreciate that not only is it demanding in terms of time, but the desire to be among the best in the business can take its toll, physically and psychologically. There is obviously little room for error, and one’s ability to withstand the sometimes scathing disapproval of highly-regarded critics is oftentimes the difference between success and failure, or more frustratingly, the primary reason for quitting. But in the grand scheme of things, nothing deters a “natural”.

INSPIRATION
With that in mind, a constant theme in Michelle’s publicized interviews is the role nature plays as a source of her inspiration.
“My inspiration often comes from nature. I am very much akin to the experience of the earth, its culture and the celebration of life. I am to some degree a health advocate…and it shows in my work. I love working with natural fibres that allow the skin to breathe and are also friendly to the world we live in.”
“I am a lover of life. I love the concept of recreating life through fashion and the natural wonders of the world. However, what matters most is to see a client smile as they slip into my outfit…a satisfied smile.”
“Fashion to me is creating that piece that makes the wearer feel comfortable. It’s helping persons step through the door feeling confident that they have presented the best version of themselves.

When it comes to models, I love the one that looks natural —a lover of life — she walks and smiles and moves like ‘Gaia’…the earth goddess,” she reportedly told global fashion magazine, Runway Life International.

PRAGMATISM
Of course there was a beginning, and there was a heartening candour and pragmatism in her responses to me (during a recent telephone interview) which spoke volumes of why she has been so successful.
There has obviously been a clear focus in her life that essentially provided a solid foundation and all that later unfolded.
“I grew up in Campbellville and loved the outdoors…was always climbing trees, never wore dresses, some may say I was a bit of a tomboy for a bit …”
Fashion was my passion since I was about five years old, and when for my tenth birthday my mom got me a sewing machine, I got on it and never got off so to speak.”
“I attended St Gabriel’s Primary, then one year at Central High. Then I went to St Joseph High. In my high school years I was already making my own clothing, so I never took ‘Clothing and Textiles’ (at CXC) because quite frankly I felt I was beyond that.
‘At twelve years old, my mom sent me to the seamstress with the fabric to have my school uniform done. I decided I was going to make it myself…so I started cutting. My mom got home saw the fabric in pieces and matter-of-factly said ‘whatever it looks like when it’s done you are wearing it’. “Well it turned out okay; I wore it for a term.”
“I remember when I graduated from High School I got into many arguments with my mom, because I did not want to attend the University of Guyana. But my reason was they did not offer fashion design as a choice and I felt ‘why spend four years studying for a degree I was never going to use?’… because I would have had to choose a different subject area. I knew I wanted to be a fashion designer and everything I did was with that goal in mind.”

One would describe Michelle as quite modest when conversing with her, but how does she see herself?
“My personality? That depends on who you ask,” she says with a hearty laugh.
“I am shy, which is something that unless you know me well enough you would never guess…and that is because given my profession of choice, I have had to find ways of facing the public when I have to.”
“Growing up I had no friends who shared the passion for fashion I had. One of my closest friends now is also a fashion designer… he’s world-renowned “the fabulous Roger Gary” he has never been lazy on imparting great advice.”

EXPANDING HORIZONS AND MOTHERHOOD
There clearly was a period when it became apparent that it was necessary for her to expand her horizons; that Guyana understandably has its limitations where pursuits of that nature are concerned. As a go-getter, this should not have taken someone like Michelle, very long to figure out. And it didn’t.
“From a very early age I knew there was a need to expand my horizons. My first exhibition outside of Guyana happened in my early twenties and I have been working outside of Guyana ever since, even though I only left three years ago.
For me, when I was younger it was about making my mom proud, because she believed in me and the fact that I would one day be a great designer. When my Mom passed away 12 years ago I was devastated, but her memory became a driving force for me.”
“When I became a mother, I kind of immediately understood the sacrifices that my Mom had made for us and from that day on it was about creating a legacy for my children. And even more so when I was separated and subsequently divorced three years ago… as a single-parent with three young children I can say it is not the easiest task.
“My day starts at 6a.m. when I have to be up to prepare them for school at 7:40a.m., then I have some time to get creative until I get them from school at 2:30p.m., then it’s homework time, reading, dinner then bedtime for the kids, at which time Mommy goes back to working. I work a lot at nights. I never sleep before midnight, so you can figure it out, my daily activity consumes no less than 18 hours.
But thankfully there has been wonderful support. I have been blessed with great friends who have basically adopted my children and treat them like theirs. Roger (Gary) and Natasha Martindale are my kids’ other parents.”

 “BIG BREAK”

This led to me to ask about her eventual migration, its initial impact, and when her “big break” came or presented itself.
“Migrating was not so much a choice for me; it was more circumstances that happened in my life that lead to that. I walked away from all my comforts and started a new life with my children. Was it easy? No. But I always look at the glass as half-full; focus on what I have now that I can build on… and that’s the attitude that got me through the hard days.
As regards what would be considered my big break, I think when people knew who Michelle Cole was and what I do… was in 1999. I designed a gown for Morvinia Sobers who participated in Miss Guyana Universe and won in a Michelle Cole design dubbed “Red and Ready”, that’s when Guyana became aware that there was a designer named Michelle Cole!”
“Having said that, my ultimate goal, ever since I was a teenager, is that one day my work will grace the runways of Paris…And trust me, it will happen.”

IMPRESSIVE RÉSUMÉ
And the recognition is currently indisputable as Michelle has an extremely impressive résumé which includes the Caribbean Designer of the Year/Best Country Designer Award for Guyana in 2008.
She has participated in numerous high profile events such as PLITZS New York City Fashion Week; Limelight Market Place Fashion Week; Fashion Has No Borders   Canada, 2008; Carifesta 2008; Barbados and St. Kitts Fashion Weeks; Guyana contingent for Carifesta 2006, T&T; Bikini under the Bridge   New York
Moda Manhattan, New York  2005; Fashion week of the Americas  Miami; Fashion Week of the Caribbean  Jamaica; Caribbean Craft & Gift Show   Barbados; Bemex  Barbados; Caribbean Designers Showcase   St. Vincent and Grenada Trade Fair
It is also well-documented that among her company ColeFacts’ ‘Best designer’ gowns are: Miss Guyana Universe; World; African Heritage; Talented Teen; Mashramani Pageant; Miss Queen of the Caribbean (held in Dominica) and Miss Carnival  St Vincent.
She was also Official Designer for Miss Guyana Universe 2002 2006 and a Co Designer in Miss Jam Zone, among a number of other noteworthy engagements.

ADVICE, PATRIOTISM AND THE ULTIMATE GOAL
So what advice does she have for other young Guyanese designers, and would she encourage her daughters to pursue fashion design?
“New York City is the obvious choice for any serious fashion designer. And I agree everyone’s path to success will be different. But for now I would simply tell them (young designers) that to succeed at any craft you have to perfect it. It’s not just about making a dress for someone. It’s about creating a garment of quality that you can be proud of and the person wearing it can say ‘I am comfortable and I love it! I love me in it!’”

“As for my children, my eldest daughter tells me all the time that she wants to be a designer just like me, she is totally fascinated with fashion…even picks out my clothing when I have events sometimes. I say to her ‘you are going to be way better than mommy, because mommy will be your teacher’. She is six years old and already sewing and creating styles. Her dolls change their clothing every day.”
And don’t believe this foreign-based standout has forgotten her homeland!
“With respect to Guyana there are no half-measures… Guyana is home for me; will always be home. There are a lot of things I miss about Guyana, the weather, etc. But remember, I am a glass-is-half-full kind of girl, so I focus on what I have now to build on and not what I had!
I will forever be working in Guyana. I am the Pageant Director for the new Miss World Guyana as of this year…Natasha Martindale is the franchise holder and Roger Gary is the Production Director.”
“Someday soon I will return to ‘Mash in Guyana’, and the programme FACTS, that was founded by myself and Natasha, will have a rebirth there at home. To sum it all up, I have been blessed in many ways and I feel it’s important to share that blessing, and no place is more deserving than the place of my birth.”

 

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