Though she is not popular, those who know of Carmel Benjamin, have been won over by the impeccable clothing she turns out and have become repeat clients over the decade or so that she has been fully involved in fashion.
Growing up in Parika, East Bank Essequibo, Carmel was first exposed to fashion while attending Parika/Salem Primary School. Her mother, who was a seamstress, could always count on her help whenever she needed it. A cousin, who was also headmistress at Vreed-en-Hoop Secondary School when she was a girl, was also a seamstress. Her cousin, Carmel pointed out, lived a stone’s throw away and she would often visit her and help out however she could. In her early teens, she began assisting her cousin in sewing ties. Around the same time, she began sewing her own school uniforms after her mother cut the pattern. Since she always had materials at hand, her dolls never lacked the newest designer dresses.
Learning to sew when she was younger, she shared, was really because she came from a poor home. Her family, she said, could not afford to buy all the nice clothing they wanted so they made them instead. She recalled her mother taking apart the more complex clothing then sewing them back together. There were some designs she learnt to do this way also. Shortly after leaving Leonora Secondary School, she learned to smock through a training programme led by the National Centre for Educational Resource Development and UNICEF. She currently uses it to make cushions for a furniture business at Bagotville, West Bank Demerara.
Although she has been sewing for as long as she can remember, it never occurred to Carmel to turn it into a business until about 11 years ago. This was shortly after she got married and settled down with her husband on the Pomeroon River. One day while they were out and about in Charity her husband introduced her to a tailor. While chatting, they learnt the man needed help and she began working there, learning new skills like taking measurements and sewing men’s garments. Now these additional skills allow her the opportunity to help her mother with something she might not know.
Every new style she has never sewn is an opportunity to figure out how to sew it, she said, admitting that she likes a challenge. If she is struggling to figure out a new style, she is not discouraged as the internet is at her fingertips and there are not many styles that she cannot make today.
Carmel pointed out that her favourite fabric to work with is the thick stretch spandex that allows her clients’ clothing to hug their curves. Satin is a material she dislikes as she says it is not durable. Carmel pointed out that the fabric works fine for backdrops but people should not use satin to make their clothing, as it is known for ripping at its seams. If the clothing is sewn too close to the client’s body, one wear is enough for the fabric to tear, she said. If one is not very careful, the material easily slides while cutting which can affect the way it fits or turn out to be not the exact measurement. Whenever clients ask whether they should purchase satin to make their clothing, Carmel recommends that it would be best if they went for charmeuse, which is similar, or bridal satin which is thicker and more durable.
The mother of three boys does all her sewing from her Parfaite Harmonie home. She has plans to set up a shop in the front of her residence where she can meet clients for fittings and do all of her sewing. Her clients hail from various parts of Guyana including Linden, Bartica, Diamond, and Parika among other areas. Carmel has made clothing for some of her clients without meeting them and the items have turned out great.
Being a mother has meant having to homeschool her boys, and still find time for her work as well as run her home. In addition to giving her sons lessons, she also taught about seven children from around the area during the August vacation.
Most of the time, her work is done while her children are asleep at night. Sometimes she works from 9 in the night until the next day, when she stops sewing to make breakfast for her family. After breakfast, she would take a break to sleep for an hour before starting again. So passionate is Carmel about what she does, that even if she had no clients, she would still be doing it, but just making outfits for herself, her husband and their children.
She takes pride in the way she makes the pieces for her customers which may be the reason she is often commended by them. Carmel shared that she has had clients who reached out after she did their outfits to tell her that she is the first to make their clothing the way they wanted. “I always get excited when I sew and when they reach out to me to tell me they love the clothing I did,” she said.
While she is yet to produce a wedding dress, she has created dresses for bridesmaids. Carmel noted that she has made clothing for women, men, and children. Though she recommends that her clients purchase their own fabric, she would advise them on the material to get and how many lengths they need to purchase. Sometimes she purchases the material herself and when she does, she prefers to get their fabric at Shawn Fabric World in Stabroek Market.
Carmel shared that she wants to learn how to knit and plans to attend Carnegie School of Home Economics in the future. She added that a certificate from the school should also aid in providing more business.
She can be reached via her Facebook page: Carmel Benjamin or 682-1033.
