Renowned Guyanese designer, Randy Madray, is a ‘Special Person’

Mar 21, 2021 News, Special Person

With over 100 winning pageant dresses and counting…

By Rehanna Ramsay

Renowned Guyanese designer, Randy Madray.

Kaieteur News – Some may liken it to the ‘Midas touch,’ while others might say he is born with phenomenal talent, but whatever your take is on his work, Guyanese designer, Randy Madray, is definitely one to watch.
Within the last decade, Madray has cemented his name in the local fashion industry with over 100 pageant queens crowned in his designs.
His work has been lauded on both the local and international pageant fronts, yet, the 27-year- old designer remains quite humbled by his accomplishments.
He told Kaieteur News that he has been blessed to be able to do what he loves and to have others love his creations as well.
“I am definitely thankful to have a career in fashion design, because this is something that I love to do and want to keep doing for as long as possible,” he said speaking on the prospects of longevity in his career.

Mrs. Ali is pictured with President Ifraan Ali wearing a Randy Madray design.

First Lady Arya Ali wears Randy Madray.

While this week’s ‘Special Person’ has made his name in certain social circles and comes highly recommended by his clients, his ultimate goal is to have his clothing recognized among top global brands like Alexander McQueen, Christian Dior, Elie Saab, and Dolce and Gabbana.
For now, Madray is satisfied with having dressed a long list of influential women, including First Lady, Arya Ali; former Miss Earth Guyana, Xamiera Kippins; and the first black woman to be crowned Miss Great Britain, DeeAnn Kentish Rogers.
“She actually won that title wearing a Randy Madray creation,” the designer gushed. He added that, that same year, his design was listed on Missosology – the leading international beauty pageant website, as one of the top gowns.
Madray said that he started to dabble in fashion as a teenager.
He recalled that his grandmother, Loreen, taught him to sew and later, he was mentored by designers, Lewis Jackson, Michelle Cole of Cole Facts and Natasha Martindale. He noted that while his glamourous career path is a far cry from how he was brought up, he is eternally grateful and proud of his family.

FASHION NICHE
Madray is a product of Meadow Bank, Georgetown — a small fishing community bordering the residential nearby community of Houston.
He said, “I grew up in a family yard with my extended family. We are very close knitted and I had lots of fun with my cousins and siblings. During my years growing up, I was able to witness the strength of my family growing from very little to a more comfortable way of life. It is, to date, quite inspiring.”
As a tot, Madray attended the East Street Nursery School and later the West Ruimveldt Primary before he went to Queen’s College. He recalled that his grandfather took him to school every day with his school bus.
By the time, he was 16 years old; Madray was able to create working relationships with designers, Michelle Cole and Natasha Martindale.
“I was always very creative from a young age, but it was in high school that I was really able to pursue my artistic dreams. Designer, Lewis Jackson, saw my attention to detail when drawing clothes in high school and he, my cousin, as well as my teachers encouraged me to enter the Facts Three Competition—a local design project,” he recalled. At the end of the competition, Madray emerged the winner.
While he credits his grandmother, who was a seamstress, Lewis Jackson and Michelle Cole, for some of his sewing skills, Madray said that most of what he knows is self-taught.
He recalled that he was fresh out of high school when he began to pursue his dreams of designing clothes.
I had saved up all my earnings from my small clientele and rented my own studio to commence work for customers.

Miss Earth Guyana 2018, Xamiera Kippins, in the ‘Old Higue’ inspired costume designed by Randy Madray. She copped the best national costume design on the international stage.

Another model donned in one of Randy Madray’s glamourous designs.

OVER 100 WINNING DRESSES
As the clientele grew, Madray came highly recommended in pageant circles. The local ‘fashion guru’ became known for designing winning gowns.
In fact, this is top tier on his resume as a designer.
“Over 100 queens were crowned in Randy Madray (dresses) internationally and locally,” Madray said, adding that his work for pageant contestants and beauty queens across the Caribbean and internationally has brought him immense satisfaction.
He said too that having the first black woman, DeeAnn Kentish Rogers, who was crowned Miss Universe Great Britain wearing a custom Randy Madray gown, is also a highlight of his career. Another notable design by Madray that caught international attention was Miss Earth Guyana 2018’s Old Higue-inspired costume, which local beauty queen, Xamiera Kippins, copped the best national costume design on the international stage.

The former Miss Earth Guyana is dripped in Randy Madray couture.

Asked about the inspiration behind his work, Madray said that he is often inspired by culture and old movies.
“I love the fashion from the Marilyn Monroe era, but my clients are my muse, I always talk to them first to get an understanding of their personality and the event to which they plan to wear my design, because for me when I capture the essence of that person, the clothes I make for them is only complimentary,” he noted.
Outside of designing, Madray has a vested interest in pageantry. He held the franchise for the Miss Black San International Pageant for two years. Under his management, Guyana was crowned, Miss Black San International, for those two years. At present, Madray is a contender in the Mr. India Guyana Pageant 2021 and is named among the Brand Youth top 40 Young Entrepreneurs Awardees.
Notwithstanding the above, Madray admits that the local fashion industry has been growing over the years, with many young people stepping in new and unique pieces.
As such, he has to remain committed, consistent and innovative to continue to hold his own. He noted that among the challenges he faces, as a designer, is not being able to trademark his work.
“I think there is a lack of understanding of how powerful art is in Guyana and it is overlooked. I feel artists of all kinds are not given the respect they deserve for their brilliant intellectual property. I would love for the Ministries of Education and Culture, Youth and Sports to consider addressing it as well as create scholarships for designers and other types of creatives, so they really build an amazing industry here in Guyana,” the designer stated.
He said too that while designing is second nature for him, managing the business aspect of his work is a bit challenging.
“I wish I knew more about local business systems and had more business training. It is one thing to get the creative part down but running a business is no easy task,” he said.

PRESSING FORWARD
Despite this, Madray says that his business has been more than a blessing to him. “It is truly a blessing to be that strong and independent and I embrace it and put my best forward with passion, determination, humility and drive every day,” he added.
The young designer told Kaieteur News too that he has people around him to keep him motivated and pressing forward.
“My friends and family and every fan I have never met have been so encouraging and it really pushes me forward. I try my best to balance. Being in an extensive family, I always have family around me and so we have frequent times at home to unwind. Some of my closest friends are like family; most of them live in St. Kitts and they are all artists of some kind, so we truly connect and I usually spend time with them when I’m in St. Kitts for work,” he explained.
During the interview, the talented clothing designer revealed that besides his work with fashion, he has been a spokesperson/panellist for several forums for ChildLink Guyana advocating for the rights of children.
“Recently there has been a deep focus on violence among boys. As a part of my Mr. India Guyana journey, I will be focusing on the mental health among young boys and how the arts can help improve to move them away from violence.” At this stage of his life, Madray said that he is on a journey to self-discovery.
“My greatest achievement is truly being able to start my journey and come out of my shell and even be a part of Mr. India Guyana. The best achievement anyone can achieve is being his best self, owning it and even after that continuing to grow,” he said.
Asked about his plans, Madray said that he hopes that in the next five years time, he will be able to establish a show room and ready-to-wear store.
“I see myself in more international markets and on greater international stages. I also see myself growing from the Mr. India Guyana pageant as possibly the winner and continuing and expanding my reach and scope for my platform work as my way of giving back,” he said, adding that his wildest dream is to own top of the line stores across the world.
His advice to young upcoming designers is to do research on the industry. “Be aware of the relevant systems in Guyana. Choose wisely, go after it for the right reasons, and keep reminding yourself daily why you pursued that venture. If you do what you love, you never have to work a day. If doors do not open for you, build those doors you see yourself walking through,” Madray added.