FHC aiming to make strides in fashion industry

A mother and son duo is well on the way to making waves in the local fashion industry.

After hosting its first successful three-month sewing course, Fashion House Caribbean (FHC) hosted a graduation ceremony last Saturday for their students.

Rhondel Dickson, proprietor of FHC, delivered {{more}}opening remarks at the ceremony and noted that the programme was the brainchild of his mother Rhonda Dickson and that one of the main objectives was to develop the skill set of persons in society.

He revealed that FHC had hosted a test run of the sewing programme in October 2014, which was successfully completed by only one student, Chenise Hendrickson, who has since created her clothing brand, Caress.

“From that, we realized, she never had a job before and from that she is sewing and making her own income, so we decided to develop on that,” Dickson said.

The sewing course began in January and is separated into various sections that teach the student about the sewing machine, how to create pants, skirts, tops and dresses. Learning how to read commercial patterns is also part of the course curriculum.

Sue-Mona Moses, one of Saturday’s graduates, commended the professionalism of the Dickson duo and encouraged them to continue making strides so that their business can grow positively.

“Prior to attending this class, I was enrolled in a previous sewing class; however, upon completion, I was not totally satisfied,” Moses said.

“From the onset of this three-month course, I learned a great deal about the world of sewing, which I know will stick with me forever.”

Like Moses, retired public servant Jonquil Cadogan also attended a class prior to enrolling in the FHC sewing course, but was not satisfied with the results, as her sewing skills were not what she expected them to be when she had completed that first course.

“From day one, it was an inspiration to me. It was so different and it was so hands-on that at the end of it, you wouldn’t not be able to do something,” Cadogan said, praising the FHC sewing course.

“I am totally satisfied. I would go into a store now and see things and be like, well, wait you know I could make that and in my head I know exactly how I’m going to cut this cloth and how I can make it. So I am equipped to go on and that is what I am really thankful for.”

For Precious Woods, the classroom setting was what she enjoyed most about being part of the course, as it consisted mostly of informative discussion and she never felt pressured to do anything.

“I must say that it was a very inspirational experience because from now, a lot of the pieces I made, I’m wearing them. When I’m going out in the night, or in the day, I would wear one of my pieces and I would feel better in my piece than something that I bought elsewhere,” she told the audience, during last weekend’s ceremony.

Entrepreneur Andrew Miller was the featured speaker at the event.

Miller, the head of Andrew’s Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Ltd, shared a philosophy that he said applies both to business and life: “each one, reach one.” He noted that if persons in society help each other to develop, then the continuous chain will create an impact that generates a much better country and lifestyle. The businessman further encouraged graduates to make use of their certificate, rather than just framing it and putting it on display.

“I must congratulate you on the effort and the self-motivation and being able to propel yourself to want to do something,” he said.

“There would always be stumbling blocks. You will always meet the rough side. There would always be negative people in your life, but guess what: the negative people are not bad, you know. The negative people are there to tell you that you need …to push yourself some more and say listen, I can do this.”

Businessman OT Mayers also shared words of encouragement to the graduating class and applauded the Dicksons for creating an avenue where persons can provide for themselves by learning a trade that will benefit their country.

“Sometimes you may go to the store and you see a beautiful dress and you want to patronize it, but while you are doing that, you are creating a job somewhere in China or some other part of the world and running down our people and saying they can’t do this or they can’t do that, but we have to invest in our people and we have to make our people be what we want them to be,” he said.

Registration for the June installment of the programme has already begun. Interested persons may contact FHC through their website, fashionhousecaribbean.com; their Facebook page, Fashion House Caribbean or telephone number, 454-5501.(BK)