Tonicia Gilkes has mastered the art of reinvention.
Her situation was not unique to these times: a marketing coordinator cum brand manager for the BMW brand at Warrens Motors, the 25-year-old was a casualty of Barbados Shipping & Trading’s restructuring exercise in 2011.
It was the first time since leaving Harrison College that Tonicia was without a job. And as the days became months, Tonicia re-evaluated her career trajectory.
“It was the first time I thought about, what do you want to do? What is deep down inside of me?” she related via Skype, as she sat on her couch in Paris, unwinding from her day.
“. . .I thought about going back to school. I knew I was going to do a Master’s degree, but I was not sure in what. I decided I wanted to work for a fashion luxury brand so I had to know about the fashion industry. . .”
After looking for programmes which focused more on the business of fashion, Tonicia applied, with some hesitance, to International Fashion Academy Polimoda Paris’ Master’s in fashion business.
“When they accepted me I was blown away. I was the first person from the Caribbean to get into the school,” she recalled with pride. It was a chance she had to take, and she was off to Paris, toting four bags, the school’s address, all her savings and a dream.
“I just took a brave step, came here and I was clueless to everything. I went straight to the school and I didn’t look for an apartment, I didn’t do anything! I just arrived,” she said laughing at the memory.
Once in school, Tonicia was able to interact with students the world over. However, there was something even more special about her: Tonicia was the only one to nab a job in Paris after the one-year programme. She worked for two luxury brands – Diane von Furstenberg and Michael Kors. She credited her relationship with God and personable approach to life for her success.
“I love people and I love to talk . . . . Any room I go into, I have no idea of hierarchy and I speak to anyone the same way, whether you are the CEO or the janitor.”
But the reinvention was far from over. Tonicia also started a business under a year ago. Paris Weddings by Toni G has been designed as a one-stop shop for those who want that perfect Parisian wedding.
“I saw how difficult it was for a foreigner to come to Paris and get anything done. France is a place where you must know the procedure. . . I saw one or two English wedding planners but they are not doing it well,” she asserted.
“I [also] have a passion for fashion and interiors (both parents are interior decorators), [so] combining both was like magic. I have positioned myself for people outside of France and clueless to where to start to have their one-of-a-kind experience in Paris. I really try to make my clients’ dreams a reality,” the entrepreneur added later in a follow-up email.
Tonicia will be creating her own magical moment. She is currently engaged to a French actor and the two plan to wed in Barbados next year. The experience was also one she wanted to facilitate for others beyond the island’s shores, while exposing the world to local fashion.
“I would love to see an increase in local designers and manufacturers of clothing, offering our talent when tourists are on our shores.”