Creative, inspirational, and innovative are some words you’d use to describe Gabby Sade Clarke. The 23-year-old fashion designer decided to follow her dreams in 2014 and create what we know today as Quaint by GSC. We sat down with Gabby to hear her side of the story of how Quaint came to be, her struggles and what it takes to be an entrepreneur.
CARIB VOXX: What was the inspiration behind Quaint?
Gabrielle Clarke: I was living on Rex Nettleford Hall at the University of the West Indies in my first year of dental school. I was going to a party and I made myself a body suit and one of my flatmates saw it and he suggested I enter a few pieces into a fashion show called Uber Fashion. I was hesitant, but then I just decided I was going to give it a shot because perhaps this could actually become something really great and I went into the fabric store and the rest was history.
CARIB VOXX: Who is Gabby Sade?
Gabrielle Clarke: Gabby Sade is a spiritual 23-year-old woman living in Kingston, Jamaica that loves to do yoga and meditation. She goes by some of the teachings of His Imperial Majesty Emperor Haile Selassie. Gabby loves bright colours, patterns, and anything unusual, outstanding and picturesque. She has a knack for aesthetics and designing. She also believes in taking risks and doing things that you fear looking fear in the eye and doing it anyway.
CARIB VOXX: Where did your love for designing come from?
Gabrielle Clarke: So, my love for designing I think first started out based on the fact that I’m a Libra. I love fashion and aesthetics and I think all those elements came together to make me a creative person. I used to make clothes for my dolls and my teddy bears. Eventually, I started researching and checking out people who were making their own clothing; and I decided I should make my own clothing as well
CARIB VOXX: Tell us about your products
Gabrielle Clarke: I’m going to tell you about the products I love the most.
The first one is the Warrior Belt Bag, which is done in full leatherette and is shaped like a small rectangular pouch. It has detachable straps allowing you to wear it across your chest or around your waist. It also features a small front pocket and has piping around the edges to make it really structured.
My next favourite product is the Trod Light Fanny Pack. This fanny pack also allows you to wear it around your waist and across your chest. It has a small front pocket and a zippered pocket on the inside. It also has African print fabric for the piping.
The next product is the MotherlandBackpack which has a map of Africa outlined on the front. On the bag pack the front pocket, the sides, and the back are accented with African print fabric. It also features a stitch detail of the Star of David.
CARIB VOXX: Do you make all your products by hand?
Gabrielle Clarke: Yes
CARIB VOXX: Was there any time that you wanted to quit? And how did you overcome it?
Gabrielle Clarke: Yes, I’ve wanted to quit. I remember once all the customers that I had orders for at that time, I messed up every order and I felt like I wanted to stop. I was saying to myself that I’m probably not good at this and everyone was dissatisfied with my work. I was telling my customer when I gave him his products that this was probably going to be the last thing that he ever gets from me because I wasn’t going to do this anymore. He told me don’t let that discourage you and honestly, if it wasn’t for him I’d probably called it quits that day.
CARIB VOXX: What’s your favourite thing about owning your own business?
Gabrielle Clarke: My favourite thing about being a business owner is the freedom that it allows me to have. It has allowed me to develop a level of self-discipline that I don’t think I would’ve had otherwise.
CARIB VOXX: Why was it important for you to have an Afrocentric line?
Gabrielle Clarke: African prints have a lot of meaning to me. My grandmother had me go to an Ethiopian Orthodox Church for most of my childhood, so I believe that African culture became a part of me from those days. It just made sense that when I went into the fabric store that the African prints were what called out to me first. I love colours and patterns nothing with one solid colour called out to me.
CARIB VOXX: What role do you think social media plays in fashion?
Gabrielle Clarke: Social media was the tool I used to let people know about my brand. If I didn’t use social media platforms such as Instagram the majority of my clientele that I have now wouldn’t have known about my brand. Just relying on word of mouth alone would have taken a lot longer. But because I have social media and because I’ve used social media as such a strong force to push my business forward it has made it possible for me to garner all these clients.
CARIB VOXX: How do you want your client to feel when they wear your clothing?
Gabrielle Clarke: When my customers wear my products, I want them to feel different. I want them to feel like there’s nobody else wearing this bag. I want them to feel like they’re apart of an exclusive movement. They should feel like they’re representing their culture and contributing to society; Jamaica and Africa. Overall, I want them to feel exclusive like I’m a part of something great.
CARIB VOXX: What advice would you give to upcoming entrepreneurs?
Gabrielle Clarke: Firstly, do not get into the entrepreneurial business if you’re not willing to be disciplined. The second thing is to make sure that you have a solid plan in your mind and project what you want for the future. Create a strategy to create and market your product. Finally, put financial measures like cash flow management and having a bank account for your business in place.
CARIB VOXX: And finally, where do you see Quaint in 5 years?
Gabrielle Clarke: In five years, I see Quaint having at least two stores in Jamaica. I intend to have one on the north coast and one in Kingston. It’s going to be a store specifically for Quaint products. It’s also my intention to have at least two outlets overseas one in Florida and New York. I want to be shipping to stores overseas where I want all my products in abundance. That’s my hope for the next five years.
A jane of all trades, inspirational and uniquely different. Gabby has paved her way in the Jamaica market with her afro-centric line and she has her sights on talking over the world. Support a Jamaican brand, shop Quaint by GSC today.
