W
ho exactly is “Shiv” you may ask? Shiv, short for Shivonne, is
originally from the beautiful, tropical islands of Trinidad and Tobago.
Well known for its beaches, history, Carnival and soca music, this twin
island republic boasts a diverse and exuberant culture. She epitomizes
what a T&T national is -outgoing, personable, spiritual and chatty.
As a young child she always had a creative side, using her hands to create
one of kind items. However, upon entry into secondary school and
enrolling in Clothing and Textiles class, she truly started to explore her
innovative side. In the interview, Shiv revealed that she enjoyed
sewing her own clothing since she was quite petite (probably 100lbs) as
many stores did not cater to her size.
The idea emerged about 7 years ago when she went to purchase a
swimsuit. There were no sizes available and those in kids stores were
too childish for her taste. She was even advised to buy the smallest size
and pay to have someone adjust it. In that moment, she thought, “but
Shiv, why not make one yourself?” After a quick examination of the
construction and type of stitching used for the swimsuit, she proceeded
to the fabric store, bought some spandex and made her first swimsuit
which fit perfectly.
This spurred her on to design and make so many pieces that persons
would stop her to enquire as to where she got the swimsuit she was
wearing. Today, Shiv does custom made swimsuits and engages the
services of her partners Amanda and Darriane (depending on which
country the customer is from) to deliver free of charge and make any
necessary on the spot alterations all for a reasonable price.
Her aspirations are to provide ladies with some proper fitting, sexy and
comfortable pieces to add to their swimsuit collection without charging
top dollar.
16 | Island Signatures
Island Signatures | 17