LEFT: A model wears a two-piece denim outfit adorned with red and white zippers from Felicia Blake's Felicity designs. RIGHT: A model wears a red, white and black asymmetrical cut design from Felicia Blake's Felicity designs. - CONTRIBUTED PHOTOS
AT AGE 21, Felicia Blake is definitely a focused designer, well on her way to establishing herself as a strong force in the fashion world.
Blake, who is largely a self taught designer, hails from Mountain View Avenue, in east Kingston. She discovered her talent as a designer and seamstress at age eight when she sewed a skirt for her mother with little supervision. It was not until she was 15, however, that she started to take sewing seriously. It was also at this age that she received her first sewing machine, a gift from her mother. She was still attending school and had very little money to buy the necessary material, so her family helped her to keep her dreams alive. "My mom was always there and I have an uncle overseas who would sometimes send cash or fabric to help me," she said.
Their support has helped to create 'Felicity', Blake's own clothing line that features a wide range of pieces for men and women. Her designs include formal, dancehall and casual styles and also swim wear.
In 2001, while still in school, Blake and a partner ventured farther into the fashion field and started the Felician model agency. As a finalist in the 'Miss Dunoon Technical High' competition, Blake developed a love for modelling and thought it was something she could twin with fashion design. "While I was going through the competition, I received training from Paul Abrahams and learned everything about how to walk and how to behave, and I said to myself, this is not that hard, so we started the agency," she said.
THE AGENCY BUSINESS
The agency, which now has about 15 models, has been a part of several shows including Harmony Splash 2003. Her creations have also been featured at the Spunky Fashion show with La Face models.
Funding her business continues to be difficult, but two businesses in the Corporate Area have been assisting her with material to create her designs. Blake is also currently seeking funding from the Jamaica Business Development Centre (JBDC).
Felicia also wants to go back to school to study design, and has already made plans to do so. She also hopes to make her clothing line international after she has finished her studies and learned more about the profession and industry. In the meantime, her attempts to be established in the fashion industry have not gone unnoticed as she was recently nominated for the Prime Minister's Youth Award. She also received a community award for outstanding contribution last August.
