Amika Lewis has always had the makings of a great businesswoman.
From selling fruit chow at school in her teenage years in order to help her mother with the financial burdens at home, to helping her aunt sell avocados, chadon beni and green fig at the market on weekends, she developed skills in business acumen, sales and great customer service. Her seven-year stint in the accounts department of the insurance industry added another dimension to her development as a businesswoman.
So a little over two months ago, when it became a choice of giving up her corporate job in favour of designing and sewing swimsuits for her own business, Chilli BiBi Swim, the decision was easy and the transition was smooth.
“I used to work eight to four at my regular job, and then come home, relax for about half an hour and then start sewing from about five, until about two o’clock in the morning. So it was like I had two full time jobs,” the 28-year-old told Business Guardian.
And then a third responsibility that took precedence over all others, came along. She had a baby and it was a struggle trying to juggle both jobs, and being a wife and mother. One of the jobs had to go.
“I made the decision to focus more on my business because everything was getting to be too much. Best decision ever,” she said
“I don’t think it was a hard transition, because I was already in it and doing it. I basically have a lot more free time for myself now. And financially, it was a good decision too.”
Lewis’ pieces have been showcased at many events around T&T, especially the J’Ouvert fetes.
“To name a few, I sew for Caribbean Beauties Ltd, Bees Please Entertainment Ltd, Dirty Medics, Dynasty Events and Team Chill Out Events. Team Chill Out hosts the popular Rise party, and I am the designer and seamstress for most of the stuff for Rise.”
Caribbean Beauties, she explained, is a media, culture, and lifestyle company that highlights Caribbean women, regional achievements, and Carnival events. She said she works with the company on a line of swimwear, and then Caribbean Beauties takes the suits to different islands to sell them.
“So we had pieces in a few Caribbean Islands. Sometimes, customers will personally reach out to me to sew them a custom-design piece, which I will ship to them via FedEx.”
But her dream collab is to design Monday wear for local and regional Carnival bands.
“Right now, I do advertise at Harts Carnival mas camp in Port of Spain. Harts has called me every year to advertise my Monday wear a month before Carnival.”
She also works with Carnival Glam Hub, a Carnival morning concierge that prepares masqueraders for the road with hair, makeup, photoshoots and getting-dressed assistance.
“I usually do on-the-spot alterations for them. So they can come to the hub and get their panties and bras altered. Anything they need glued or fixed on their costumes, I do it.”
Lewis said eight years ago she used YouTube videos to teach herself to sew, and around Easter three years ago, she launched her first Chilli BiBi Swim collection. The name of her business holds special meaning; it’s a tribute to her late aunt and the currency she used to pay her worker.
“We used to sell at her stall in the market, and every time I was finished, she would give me a bag of chilli bibi. I thought naming my business after something that she would give me would be something memorable.”
Lewis set up a small factory space on the compound of her mother’s home in San Juan, where all her production takes place. The logistics are ideal, because on very busy days, her mother helps take care of the baby.
“In the early days, I used to borrow my granny’s sewing machine and I would give myself little projects and practise, practise, practise. And then I eventually bought a second-hand serger machine. And after that, I went by Brothers in San Juan and I took out a heavy-duty machine, straight stitch, on hire purchase.”
Ironically, that investment paid off big time during the COVID-19 pandemic when the demand for face masks was high.
“Everybody was asking for masks, and I used that income to pay off for the heavy-duty machine.”
Eventually, she started sewing regular swimwear, and then people began asking for custom designs.
“As I started to dabble in other things, they came out well, and I started getting creative, designing other things. And then after that, people were asking if I did bulk work, like for fetes.”
Lewis said she can sew just about anything, but she believes making swimwear is her calling, and where she makes the bulk of her earnings.
“That’s where the demand really is—the swimwear and party wear side of it. And I personally find swimwear has a faster turnover.”
She believes she left her corporate job at an opportune time—just in time for the July/August vacation, when the demographic she targets heads to the beaches, rivers and water parks, and flock to as many JAVA parties and boat rides as there are around this time.
“And now I’m booked till October, which will take me straight back into the Trinidad Carnival season again. So I think it was a really good decision.”
She said the expansion of Chilli BiBi is on the horizon, and one of her dreams is to be able to create employment for young people.
“When things are busy, I hire someone to help our on a part-time basis. But I want to be able to provide full-time jobs for the youth and to help them learn a new skill.”
