Claudia’s fashion vision on the region

LOCAL designer Claudia Pegus can’t understand why Trinidadians and Tobagonians always focus on the international market when they engage her in conversation about fashion. “This is something I find very, very disturbing,” she said. “I talk to Trinidadians and their focus is solely on the international market. They want to know if I’m in Milan or Paris, but not what I was doing regionally.” The irony in this Claudia explained, was if she went to Italy as a designer looking to enter that market, that fashion community would ask “which Caribbean markets have I penetrated.” For this reason she is firm in her belief that Caribbean people must respect and appreciate what is theirs first, before appreciating others. Claudia, who once lived in Germany, said her vision, focus and passion is to develop fashion within the Caribbean region.     

“I can leave here tomorrow and go back to Germany, set up my atelier and forget about the Caribbean. But that is not my vision. I am a regional woman. My vision is here. I want my legacy to be here. When I pass on, I want to leave a legacy of Caribbean couture behind,” Claudia declared. Last Monday, the celebrated fashion designer and businesswoman was declared the Top Female Owned/managed Export company in this country at the Prime Minister’s Exporter of the Year function sponsored by TIDCO and RBTT. The ceremony was held at the Hilton Trinidad  and Conference Centre. Claudia said several people, including her staff, sought permission to nominate her for the award. “I was elated to be positioned at this level. This award recognises women as winners. Not women who own, but manage their own business,” she said. “I have done the ground work. I have penetrated large markets in the region. My export sales have always been greater than my local capacity.”

Claudia Pegus’ creations can be found in neighbouring Grenada, St Vincent, St Lucia, Antigua, St Kitts Nevis and Venezuela. In North America, her designs can be had in New York, Miami and San Francisco, while in Europe the countries are England, Germany and France. The clothing she exports are both bulk and commissioned work. The latter causes her to travel often.  A lot of her business contacts are made via the Internet, but in the end she needs to be on location. Marketing, Claudia said, has to be the strongest tool in order for her business to succeed on the export market. She said regional fashion is a billion-dollar business, which is still untapped. “We have a lot of talented Caribbean people, but no industry. Every tourist that visits the Caribbean comes with the intention of taking back something from the location. Why do we want to start looking at Milan, Germany and Paris, when we have not begun to touch this Caribbean market?” she asked. The key to her success lies in the general respect Claudia has for her clients. “I’m a businesswoman. Every client is important to me. The client who saves money and comes to me to buy an item for $200 is as important to me as another who can afford an item for $5,000. Of course there are people who have a much larger purchasing power, but every client has contributed to my success,” she said.

After 27 years, she does not consider her aspect of business a struggle. “It’s a struggle if you don’t like what you do. I love what I do. Business is a passion of mine. If something is a struggle you need to get out of it. Life is not about struggling,” she underscored. Claudia serves as a consultant in Holland on behalf of the Surinam government for its business bureau.  Additionally, she is contracted to speak at functions on various aspects of fashion. Questions about her personal life were off limits. However, when asked about what she does for  relaxation, Claudia burst into laughter, before uttering a response. “Relaxation for me takes many forms. It may be travelling or going to the spa, taking a sauna, getting a massage or doing yoga.” She loves walking but laments that the spiralling crime rate in the country has caused her to reduce this activity. She also loves gardening and takes comfort in having a fabulous circle of friends all over the world.
 
“Even taking a piece of fabric and creating a masterpiece is a form of relaxation for me,” she said with a broad smile. “As a designer you create, not for yourself, but for the client. I guide the creativity and assist the conceptualisation of the product. But the client will determine where you go. For instance, if I wanted to penetrate a market the first thing I do is research. I would meet the clients, speak to them and find out what are their demands,” Claudia stated. She said it would not be business savvy of her to impose her products on prospective clients. “Slim skirts in shades of gray might be ideal for Trinidad and Tobago but not suited for another market. Whatever I produce must not stay on the shelf,” she declared.