Kim Rock’s workshop is small and cluttered with fabric, mannequins, tables and sewing machines. She is busy doing alterations for one of her dance students who was going to be part of a dance competition.
Along high shelves on the walls are many trophies – most belong to her daughter, boxer Kimberly Gittens, who has represented Barbados, and the others are accolades for her dancing. She has been a ballroom and Latin dance instructor since 2005.
But this interview is about her passion for making Crop Over costumes.
Kim is a self-taught seamstress. She quit her “dead-end job” in 1993 to start her own business – Kymoni Creations.
“I went to Ellerslie School and I always enjoyed dressmaking class and was used to making stuff for myself,” she explained.
She took several sewing courses, including one from Germany, and went to the Samuel Jackman Prescod Polytechnic for two years.
“Even though you might have talent, I find people like to ask where you [went to] school, where you studied, and what qualifications you have.”
With Crop Over in full swing – her main earning season – Kim works two shifts in her small shop, from 9 a.m. to 11 p.m. She gets help from four staff and her mum Mary Rock, who doesn’t sew but is the cutter in the business.
“My mum cuts every garment we sew. The whole costume-making [process] starts with her.”
An entire costume can take an hour and a half to make and Kim and her team do everything from scratch.
“Whatever the band(s) want, we provide. The bras from start to finish take about ten minutes. The bottoms go faster. So, including cutting, it’s about 20 minutes to a half hour for a set. Then the beading work takes up much more time,” she explained, showing EASY a half-done bra. What makes the work more complicated is that each garment is sewn on a different machine, like a bra, which she said is made by four different machines.
Kim started out with two machines and over the years has built up an arsenal as the demand for pieces grew.
“I have customized the machines to suit the work. There are 11 industrial sewing machines, the older ones from factory buyouts. “
Kim has worked with many bands over the last ten years and while she does sew some children’s costumes, she prefers adults’.
“I like the intricate designs I do. I have a passion for stretch work,” she said, adding, “my team and I take pride in the quality of work we produce.”
Kim likes working with spandex nylon and cotton lycra and works with bands from start to finish.
“I do pieces according to size. I specialize in cuts to suit band requirements.”
Kim laments, though, the late orders she gets from bands.
“I would like bandleaders to start from as early as April. It is not practicable for orders to come in now.”
Kim says she has seen herself working up to the Sunday morning before Kadooment Day because orders have to be changed, “especially when women do not order the correct sizes”.
Thanking bands which have supported her over the years, she says she has lost some customers because some bands are not returning this year.
“Small bands are suffering from lack of sponsorship. I?have had big bands and small bands.
“I am also facing a bit of a battle. When you look at six heavy-duty machines running for 11 hours, that utility bill is not pretty, plus I have staff to pay. Bands get subsidies [for Crop Over] but not small businesses like me. We do not get any concessions,” she explained.
Kim balances the scale by selecting effective workers.
“I want people to work fast and clean. Sloppy work means starting over.”
She commented that creativity abounds in Barbados and bandleaders who go overseas should look local first.
“Have they tried to find one in Barbados? I know it is cheaper to produce here – compared to any overseas! We are open to work, my problem is the short time they give us. I have made a lifetime investment in this business. I will do it as long as I can breathe.”
Kim says the increase in cost of materials was also a significant blow. “I expected an increase but not a jump from $500 to $1 200 for a box of elastic. With that I cannot maintain my old prices to bandleaders.”
She says she seldom gets to go to many of the big events but she will try to get to a few this season. The 40-year-old says she will be on the road Kadooment Day jumping in one of her creations for one of the bands she has worked with.
“For the last six years I have jumped. It’s my work and I take pride in my product after all that work,” she said, pointing out an immaculate costume that she jumped in last year.