THERE’S SOMETHING ABOUT SAMARAH COMISSIONG. I watched her intently dabbing paint on the stencil that’s on top of a piece of jute on a hot Sunday afternoon while the photographer took picture after picture, with nary a complaint. Pose after different pose with directions of “tilt your head, move your left hand higher, look at me, look away”, and she complied, even asking how to make better adjustments.
She says she is shy and an introvert and it shows, but she has a gentleness about her that draws you in and an easygoing manner that makes her presence warm and inviting. She is also smart, witty and loves to laugh.
Born in Barbados, the past student of The St Michael school has a bachelor of arts degree in ceramic design from Central Saint Martins in London where she lived for six years. But the 30-year-old didn’t pick design to fall in love with. As the saying goes, “the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree”.
“My mum Vanita is a well-known artist and gallery owner here in Barbados. And as a child I expressed myself through tinkering and creating. I can’t remember ever wanting to do anything that was not in the creative field, and, for a while, I thought about interior design as I loved rearranging my space and restoring furniture . . . To this day I still rearrange my space.”
Samarah has returned home and started on another journey, that of an entrepreneur, using her skills to make interesting handmade products, with elements all locally sourced and designed by her.
“My degree was primarily design-based and taught me to think like a designer . . . the various processes and stages a designer goes through and how to solve problems in the most effective way. I was taught that the design process is universal and can be applied to any field. That thinking gave me the freedom to use the design principles not only in regards to ceramics but in everything I do. So you could say that I really started designing in university.”
While in London, Samarah worked part-time for an interior designer and also as a sales assistant at Anthropologie. Back home she picked up more skills working at various places and her last employment was at Un Dimanche a Paris, a French boutique in Limegrove.
“I learnt so much there as the owners’ attention to detail taught me to take a closer look at my products and refine the often overlooked details that improve the quality of a brand.”
Samarah decided to take a leap of faith and the items that she used to make to sell and give to friends was her ticket.
“In May this year I decided to give self-employment a go. My parents’ financial and moral support was what made it all possible.”
SomethingSamarah offers jewellery, home accessories and the customisable canvas clutch.
“I often describe my pieces as made for island life, easy, natural, fun, not fussy or overcomplicated, simply chic. I love working with natural fabrics and material and try to stay away from synthetics where I can.
“I also love to incorporate found materials into my work, which makes each piece unique and special in its own way, whether it’s adding shells to a tassel on the bag or using vintage ceramics on a necklace. I try to source as much of my material locally, and even though it can be a bit of a search, it’s worth the effort.
“The handmade aspect is also very important in my work. The bags are all printed by me, the tassels are handmade by me, even my labels are handmade. I have an amazing seamstress who puts them together for me. What is great about me making everything by hand is that it allows clients to create their own bag . . . .They can customise it to their liking, mix and matching patterns, choosing a tassel, even having their names printed on the bag.
“When someone buys a piece of my work they know they are supporting a locally, handmade product with a human connection.”
And working from home isn’t bad either, not when you have a window to the sea – literally.
Samarah and her parents were lucky enough to find a quaint apartment in Speightstown, St Peter, and from her balcony she faces the ocean, from where she gets inspiration every day.
“Every day I am on the beach, and who can beat actually working in a swimsuit. That is heaven. A lot of my work now is island inspired. It fits the lifestyle here in Barbados. I don’t have a store so my set-up is in my apartment where I have made the space for my work.”
And the work space is just right for a huge table that is covered with knick-knacks needed for her pieces, paint pots and brushes, cords and stencils. Under the table and in corners are bags of scraps, see-through containers with different coloured fabric and plastic bags labelled tassels and buttons.
“Working from home has its ups and down. I love setting my own working hours as I find I work best in the morning. I love the flexibility that comes with it but at the same time I miss the social interaction, which forces me to get out to the gym or a yoga class every day to have that interaction.
“It’s true that you work harder when you work for yourself. I find it very difficult to shut down and stop working and I even feel guilty taking time off,” she said solemnly.
Since her business is just starting up Samarah stocks her products in a couple of boutiques and posts on Facebook.
“I have to push more with social media but I find that I am really busy as I do not turn down a job . . . even if the deadlines are tight, because when you are in the business I am in there are no guarantees. I never know what my pay cheque will look like at the end of the month so it keeps me on my toes and doesn’t allow me to become complacent.”
Samarah can turn a piece around in three days depending on the number of orders, using her favourite tools: “a paint brush and my Dremel which I use to make my tassels and some of my jewellery pieces.”
The creative designer said since going out on her own she has been taken out of her comfort zone.
“Each day is a new adventure. Since going out on my own I can’t seem to sit still as there is always something to do. It has also given me more confidence in my ideas and has forced me out of my comfort zone. Take this photoshoot for instance, that was me out of my comfort zone. This is something I would have never done in the past,” she said, laughing.
Wrapping up the interview, we headed across the road to the beach to take some outdoor shots. The sea and clear blue sky provided a beautiful backdrop while crabs scuttled out of the sand towards us inquisitively.
I could see Samarah thinking pensively and she laughed as I asked what ideas she was conjuring up.
“I have a long list of DIY projects on my to-do list and an even longer to-do list for the evolution of my brand. I am not knocking a nine to five, who knows what the future holds, but right now I am exactly where I want to be.”
And she meant that two-fold: on the beach and being her own boss. Not bad for an island girl.