If you know Bandbox, then you wold recognise the brand as one that i unique and adds a delightful new flair to fashion in St. Lucia.
Kimberly ‘Kim’ Charlery is the brains behind this creative fusion of colourful, eye-catching styles that are quintessentially St. Lucian. An alumnus of the Ave Maria Girls Primary School and Saint Joseph’s Convent, Kim also attended Sir Arthur Lewis Community College part time before starting off her journey into the world of fashion, which has always been her main focus.
“Bandbox is a lifestyle fashion brand,” Kim explained. “I like to say a lifestyle brand because, to me, we’re more than just clothing and accessories, and mood chords, inasmuch as this is a signature of the brand. We try to encompass how you live and how you represent yourself. We want the brand to be something that celebrates life and is not afraid to show up and show out.”
Bandbox is all about creativity, hence the reason the name sparked quite a bit of interest.
“Bandbox means well groomed. It means the same as chic and dapper. I wanted to rebrand from the original brand name. We used to be ‘KCha Clothing’ but I found it too personal. I wanted a name that was unisex. Chic was too girly and dapper was too manly. Bandbox is an old saying. It’s a round box, which is kind of weird but I love weird things. It was used for carrying hats back in the old days. When someone said, ‘You look fresh out of a bandbox, it meant you looked really good. That’s where the name came from.”
Despite being a relatively new brand, the business itself has grown over many years. Before it was Bandbox, and even before it was KCha, it used to be something else.
“I’ve been working on this for the past ten years — since my son was born nine years ago, so the business has been around for a while. Bandbox is a little over a year old but the concept has been around for about ten years. We first started off with bags, which is how I funded my unconventional education to do what I do now.
“We don’t only do mood chords, we also mix and match designs for shirts as well. That’s my passion; mixing different prints to get something new and different. It’s not just fashion, it’s being able to get inspiration from something and turning it into something different. The mood chord inspiration came from a table. I looked at a piece of furniture and the idea of a necklace just came to me. I find it interesting to have someone look at something and wonder if they like it. And I actually have a background in evening wear. I’m certified in that, I just haven’t gotten around to it yet.”
Design wasn’t something that just sprung up on Kim, it was a dream she’d been working towards for a long time.
“I always wanted to do design. I didn’t go to formal school for it but I did a lot of short courses, classes and readings from many experts to get that education. I did a lot of expensive trial and error learning. I always wanted to build a lifestyle brand. I was an art student and, from school, my best friend and I always wanted to create a brand that had its own boutique with our own things, designed by us. But it was always a challenge to have someone bring my designs to life. I knew exactly what I wanted, so I taught myself how to sew. Initially, I didn’t really know anything about sewing and bringing a design to life, so explaining to a seamstress what I wanted was difficult. Now, as I’ve taught myself what I need to know, I can better communicate with someone and say, ‘This is what I need.’ Learning is not just being able to do, it’s being able to get things done.”
Despite being passionate about fashion designing, Kim still needed that extra push to get it done. “My son got me started. After he was born I decided to take the risk and go for it because it was something I wanted. I used my maternity leave to get started and that’s where I began with bags. I figured it was less risky; I didn’t have to fit it. Once I started, I was done in two seconds.”
Learning a new skill isn’t always easy but for Kim, fashion designing has always been part of her. “Learning to sew came like second nature to me. I was an art student at school, so I’m very good with my hands. I did a lot of crocheting at school, waiting for exams to finish, and by the end I’d come out with something new. I had to learn the aspect of sewing as a skill but design was always something that was just there.”
The process of producing unique and captivating designs is an everyday thing for Kim. “I don’t really have a thought process for my designs because I’m constantly designing. I illustrate what I cannot make because there’s a shortage of variety here when it comes to fabric, so whatever I don’t get to make, I put on paper. I used to be really self-conscious about my designs but I’ve started posting them a lot more on my social media pages now.
“I’m currently working on a princess collection along with my fiancé. We’re redesigning their outfits. We recently did the elements; earth, water, wind, fire and metal and we took those words and illustrated what they represented. I did the fashion illustration and he did his style, which is more three-quarter view or a bust-style view of the character where he embodies them through different accessories in their hair, which is really interesting.”
Kim credits her son with much of her inspiration. “My son has been my inspiration. My goal is to create a legacy that he will be proud of. No matter what, I need to be able to look him in the eye, and it’s more than just being able to provide a roof over his head. It’s also about him being proud to let people know I’m his mother, or that he’s affiliated with Bandbox in any way, and it’s not something he’s ashamed of.”
Starting a business and keeping it afloat comes not without its challenges, Kim noted. “Sourcing material is my biggest challenge. The world has become so small that it’s easy to duplicate patterns and designs, even with African fabric. There’s a Chinese version which is softer and it serves for somethings I guess but not for what we need it. And you can’t just buy it online because you need to know you’re getting good quality.”
Even with the challenges she’s faced, Kim can see Bandbox growing further and reaching its full potential.“We’re definitely not at the level I envisaged us being, as yet. Bandbox is a stepping stone or a legacy that I’d like to build to inspire others to do the same.”
Bandbox has also opened up new opportunities and avenues for Kim to expand her business. “I came from Barbados recently and I’ve been to Martinique through Bandbox. We have a store in Anguilla that sells our designs, and one at Anse Chastanet and Jade Mountain. We’ve partnered with other entrepreneurs as well. I believe there’s strength in numbers. I believe supporting others can get you far. I always tell people it’s not just about supporting local because they’re local. You support them because it’s the right thing to do.”
Like most successful entrepreneurs, Kim is not content to sit on her laurels. She is moving down her checklist at a reasonable pace and is confident that she’ll be exactly where she needs to be in terms of fulfilling Bandbox’s legacy. Bandbox has given fashion in Saint Lucia a whole new meaning and Dazzle Magazine wishes both Kim and Bandbox all the best in the near future.
