Skip to main content

#Kreyolicious Fashion: An Interview with Ginen Creations Founder Sophie Patel

The heritage-rich fashion line Ginen Creations was created by Sophie Patel, a Haiti-born, Haiti/New York-raised fashionista. Follow along as she discusses the trials and jubilation of being a fashion entrepreneur, and what role heritage played in the creation of her line.
Ginen Creations
Above: Designer Sophie Patel wearing a piece from her clothing line Ginen Creations. Photo Credit: Marc Anthony Chérubin

Kreyolicious: Rarely do people who grow up to be fashion designers, not start out as little girls who loved fashion. Was this the case with you?
Oh, yes. Definitely. I started making my own clothes at a very young age. I was about eight when I would make clothes for my dolls as well as my friend’s dolls. One of my aunts owned a Singer’s vintage machine. I used to love going to her house. Every time she was done working, I hopped on the machine—with her guidance of course—using little bits and pieces of fabrics she had left over. In my older years, I attended an all-girls Catholic school and sewing class was one of the courses available to us—which of course I took advantage of. Had plenty of training.

Kreyolicious: Did you study fashion merchandising?
No. I studied Fashion Design. It’s a funny story. I followed a completely different path from fashion after high school. I doubled majored in International Relations and Modern languages. Also studied a little bit in Child Psychology. It was actually in the recent years I decided to finally study Fashion Design after being pushed and encouraged by close friends and family.

Kreyolicious: I think that sometimes one of the first things that comes in our mind when we see a name is this…”I wonder how this name was inspired?”
The name Ginen Creations. I get asked about it so many times. The name was actually inspired by my love for African culture and it relates to Haitian culture. Me and a close friend came up with the name. I needed a name that I can relate to. A name that describes me, represent me and the business as one. I love African and Haitian culture, and I am fascinated by the story of our ancestors and how Haiti as a country came about. Ginen was just perfect. The garments that I design—even though [they’re] made with African prints—still depict the Caribbean vibe.
Ginen Creations

Kreyolicious: As a fashion designer, you constantly have to be traveling to trade shows, to meet with clients…what’s it like in day in the life of Sophie, creator of Ginen Creations?
It’s a very busy and hectic life which I love because I’m naturally a busy body. I hand-make everything in all my collections myself so a day for me is constant work, day and nights. I currently [am] finishing my latest collection which I presented at Mimi’s Boutiq Fifth Annual Show. Right now , there is not any sleeping going on [Laughter] I love the traveling. I just came back from Haiti where I had a great shoot with Princess Eud and photographer Jean-Robert Duprat. I love the traveling and all the cool people I meet and get to work with.

Kreyolicious: How do you handle those moments when you feel emotionally and physically exhausted as an entrepreneur?
I go through those moments on a regular basis but I have to remind myself that it is normal. I can’t just stop. Those time will come where everything feel like too much to handle. Thank God I have a great support system. That helps a whole lot.

Kreyolicious: What have you gotten better at…since you started on your entrepreneurship journey?
I have gotten better at a lot. Owning a business has definitely taught me to be more patient, and that [quality] comes [in handy] with everything that I’m dealing with. I pay attention to details more because, of course, I want to put out great work. As a business person I now know the ins and outs the dos and the donts. I feel like my work has gotten better. I’ve learned to express myself creatively so my work usually reflects how I’m feeling.
Ginen Creations
Photo Credit: Haiti-based singer Ruthselle wears a Ginen Creations piece. Photo Credit: Marc Anthony Chérubin

Kreyolicious: Nothing was built in a day. I think God’s temple took like 40 years or something. What are your long-term plans for your brand?
The main goal right now is to expand to other countries, especially the head wraps which I call Ginenwraps. The goal is to have different partnerships with different stores and have them carry the wraps which are a big part of what Ginen Creations stands for. [Also,] to open my own store. It is a must. I’m also looking to turn the brand into a full blown brand with many products. Right now, I’m just getting mentally prepared for what’s to come.

[Additional photography: Spex Photo]

CLICK HERE TO VISIT THE GINEN CREATIONS FASHION WEBSITE | GINEN CREATIONS ON FACEBOOK

Fashion & Beauty, Creations, Fashion, Founder, Ginen, Interview, Kreyolicious, Patel, Sophie
Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

10 Questions With Singer-Songwriter Mikaelle Cartright

Mikaelle Cartright has a voice that’s like tropical silk. The New York-born, singer-songwriter has a jazzy style that recalls the styles of singers like Anita Baker with a little hint of Shirley Bassey. How did she develop her jazzy style? What role do her parents play in her support system as a singer-songwriter? Read on to find out. Kreyolicious: Your name is Mikaelle, no doubt stemming from the name Michael, which means Who Can Be Like God ? What is the most extraordinary thing that’s happened to your life that has had you saying the same phrase? Mikaelle Cartright: Correct, my name means “Who is like God”. My existence causes me to ask that constantly. My birth was a miracle. My mother almost lost me. She was placed on bed rest somewhere around the fourth month. The muscles of her uterus were giving out and the doctor said I was going to just fall out. The medication, some hormone treatment, was barely available and when Baby Doc fell, it was chaos. My mother was, thank God, ...
Post a Comment
Read more

Haiti’s First Lady of Rap, and Hip Hop Kreyol?

Eunide Edouarin—the Haiti-based rapper more popularly known as Princess Eud —doesn’t like to do interviews. “When I’m being interviewed,” the raptress contends, “I have so many things going on my head at the same time that I sometimes answer questions they never asked me, and I’m kinda shy.” Yet shyness is a quality that very few would identity with Edouarin. Take a performance for example in which the self-described homebody held her own alongside CaRiMi , one of the most popular Haitian pop bands on the market, during one of her first big performances in New York. Slithering sexily onstage, the singer-rapper rapped effortlessly on the band’s hit “Fanm Nan Move”, before dissolving into a verse of her own song “Hey” . It’s utter confidence and bravado that shines through; no signs of timidity. Edouarin is a self-proclaimed traditional girl, but her start in the Haitian rap music game was far from conventional. While hanging at a local radio station in Port-au-Prince, she was invite...
Post a Comment
Read more

Kreyolicious Interview: Mia Lopez, Publicist/Entrepreneur

Mia Lopez is the CEO and President of M.I.A. Media, Inc, a public relations firm based in Miami that caters to the Haitian entertainment industry. Lopez is a low-key person, but among her peers and industry insiders, her work doesn’t go unnoticed. Of her, Patrick Desvarieux, the founder of Kompa Magazine, said: “She is a natural. A people’s person. One of the best at what she does. A master of her craft.” Nick Jean of KalePwa.com calls her a pioneer. “She helped take the Haitian Community into modern times [in terms of her public relations work],” he contends. After being in the mainstream music industry, singer-songwriter Mickael Music wanted to enter the Haitian music market with her Bel Project, but wanted to go about it the right way. She recalls, “I asked around, ‘Who is the best PR marketing person in the Haitian music industry’? For the people that even knew what that meant all said, “Mia Lopez”, as if she [had] created the title in the Haitian music industry. When I say “ev...
Post a Comment
Read more