By Aaliyah McFarlane
The fast approaching Easter period is Marvin Cole’s busiest, as it is during this season that he puts his creativity to work, putting out some of the more artistic kites which are sought after even though there are cheaper ‘bird’ kites on the market.
The 46-year-old kite maker, who is also a Senior Lab Technician at the Ministry of Public Works, said he has been making kites since 1989. He recalled making his first kite when he was just 13-years-old, learning the skill from going around his neighbourhood and shadowing older folks. The first kite he made was with the use of the ‘ET pointer.’ As a little boy his father made kites for him and his other siblings. His aunt, who came from overseas, bought him his first ‘fancy’ kite but one of the components got misplaced so he was unable to fly his kite that Easter. Cole explained that though he was very unhappy and annoyed, it motivated him to make his own kite.
“The first time I decided to sell kites was myself, my brother and a friend of mine by the name of Stanley Harris at the Buxton Baker Shop, but after the uprising in the village, customers were afraid to come into the Buxton, so we later moved to the main road where it would be easier when traveling to just stop for a minute or two to purchase the kites, we made twenty-five kites and we walked and sell, and within a day and a half all the kites sell out, so we continued to do the same thing, we moved from twenty-five to one hundred, to two hundred and eventually five hundred kites, they were all sold out, so we had to build more kites to sell again.” He noted that they never kept a record of the number of kites made so they just make as many as possible.
Cole described the kites’ design as star point, round the world, bird kite, box kite, T kite, six diamonds, star point six diamonds, star point 7 diamonds and many more. The materials used are kite paper which he imported from Brazil, ‘lil stick’ and a little of ‘gamma cherry’. He added that he would use soft wood from the lumber yard, and in most cases, preferably Silverbali. During a chat with Cole, even as he was working on a kite, he recalled making kites for all his friends and siblings while growing up. His brother Dwayne Cole is his business partner. He now makes kites for his children, apart from customers.
“I usually start my preparations in December… cutting up the woods and in early January my team and I would start constructing the kite frames,” he added. His team usually consists of thirty persons but this year thirty-five persons are currently working with him, and as Easter draws closer, he may employ an additional ten. Cole added that each of his workers has their own role. One employee has been working with him for almost thirty years. Sometimes he begins working as early as 6:30 am making kites and goes as late as three in the mornings with his brother Dwayne and some of his workers.
“The largest kite I ever make was the five feet kite and the smallest I ever make was 3 inches. I’ve never been in any competition but I would usually take orders from persons who want to go into kite flying competitions and most cases the winners are my works”, he said.
The prices for his kites range from $500 to $15,000 and the maximum time he takes to finish a kite is one hour, from making of the frame to the finishing touches.
Cole has been selling kites for over 30 years, he spends most of his days as a Lab Technician but when Easter is near he would take his annual leave and work with his team until the end of the season. He noted that because of his expertise, he’s had instances where other kite makers, who would admire his work, would recommend persons to him labelling him as ‘the best in the country.’ Sharing some tips with persons for this holiday he said, “Support my business, only fly kites in an open area, and children, ensure you have authorization from your parents before you go off to fly your kites and avoid coming into contact with any electrical wire.”
