The views of an “unconventional” image consultant

May 04, 2014 News

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By Kiana Wilburg

In the world of fashion, there is the stylist and then there is the image consultant. Though not particularly different from each other, a stylist is described as one who understands the science of putting the right pieces of clothing together to achieve a desired look, for example: chic, sensual, classy. The image consultant on the other hand, brings together the elements of makeup, accessories, hairstyle and clothing that enhances the personality and perfectly captures a particular look; like the look of a magistrate or even a politician, or any professional at that.
After undergoing much training in Tortola, British Virgin Islands, a 31-year-old mother of one, has emerged as a success in this regard, despite the many hardships she has faced. Andrea Cummings hated the thought of working for another person although she completed a few stints before seeking better opportunities in the Caribbean.

As a child, she always had an idea of the kind of look she wanted. Like the average child with a very active imagination, some days, she wanted to look like a princess, and on others, like a teacher. Even then she had an idea of what elements are needed for a particular image, but little did she know that it would be that affinity for “image making” that would determine who she would be and where she is today.
This is just part of what she shared with me in an interview last week.
Describing her childhood as challenging, she said that her parents who lived honest and modest lives, always instilled in her the importance of following her dreams and developing herself.
“I remember as a young girl my parents would always say, that you can be whatever you want to be, you just have to understand that it will take hard work to make those dreams come true. Even to this very day, I look upon my business and realize how those words really meant a lot to me.
I really appreciate my parents for that and I think that it is important for parents to continue to instill in their children the importance of hard work and more importantly, following their dream. My parents weren’t the type to say ‘oh well we don’t think that you can make a satisfactory standard of living being a stylist or an image maker so pursue a career in law or medicine’. They always supported my imaginative escapades and nurtured the basis of those dreams with strong values and words of encouragement.”
Cummings during her time in Guyana attended St. Ambrose Primary and Lodge Secondary, where she obtained passing grades in four subjects at CXC.
“High school was a bit challenging for me. But even in the face of that, my parents continued to encourage me to continue striving for better. After completing high school, I became a popular hit amongst family and friends, as I was constantly summoned to give them the “ideal image”.
I got several referrals because of that, but of course being the persons I am, a few referrals were definitely not going to make the cut. I knew what kind of business I wanted and I knew I needed the tools to get it done. I didn’t know where to go or start, and what would be the way forward.
Scared by my lack of knowledge, I placed my dreams on the back burner and I took on a few jobs. But the entrepreneur in me just couldn’t stand to be working for someone else.
I finally decided that I was going to, by all means necessary, equip myself with the knowledge and garner the necessary experience to build my dreams successfully. I left Guyana when I was 18 years old, and headed to the British Virgin Islands in search of better opportunities.”
FINDING FASHION
Cummings expressed that the journey to the British Virgin Islands (BVI) was an ambivalent experience for her, but it built her in more ways than one. While describing the sense of fashion and the desired images that the citizens of the BVI wanted, to be quite similar to that of Guyana, their frankness was something that she was not prepared for.
“The BVI was very different for me in terms of the people and how open and candid they were. In BVI, if someone didn’t like what you delivered, they don’t polish it off like most Guyanese would. They were very outspoken. If it is ugly or they are not satisfied they will ask you what kind of reprehensible excuse you are for a human being. It was tough. The training and other courses in fashion designing and the experience I developed in Guyana wasn’t enough to insulate me. The BVI was my training ground and it transformed me into a fierce businesswoman.”
“I have a very unconventional approach to my image-making process, a secret that will only be kept by me,” Cummings expressed with a chuckle.
She continued, “After months and months of getting it right, I was finally ready to break away from the store I was working with and move on. I developed a name in Tortola and I was very popular. But Guyana was always close to my heart. With my accumulated wealth over there, I decided to return to Guyana and establish my own business on Albert Street, Georgetown. I took several months before I established the business because I wanted it to be perfect.  I have developed the ideal wardrobe that every woman can find her perfect look.”
THE ENTREPRENEUR IN YOU
Though Cummings recently established her business locally, she is already described in certain circles as one of the best local stylists.
“I may not be the most brilliant and successful person out there in the fashion world, but what I do know is, as a mother and as a woman who has emerged from hardships successfully, I know what it is to be faced with doing something that is economically beneficial on one hand and chasing your dream which may be clouded by uncertainty on the other. I hesitated many times to take that jump and in a way I am sorry I did, but what I do want all mothers and young women who have been through the trials, is to understand that it is important to hold o to your dreams. Don’t allow whatever hardships you are facing to out that flame in you, and by no means should you let anyone stifle the entrepreneur in you. Not even your own insecurities.”

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