KARLA Smith has been sewing since her eyes were at her knees. Watching and assisting her late mother, a full-time dressmaker, proved a wonderful avenue in which to channel her early development. Sewing became a hobby and when the craft developed from making dolls’ clothes to eventually her own, it was testimony of how much she loved it.

In high school she deviated from sewing. The subjects she selected were not inclined to nurture her development in the field of haute couture. However, Smith continued to sew because of her true love for the art. It seemed sewing would remain a hobby even as she went on to gain a Bachelor of Science degree in accounting from the University of the West Indies and started working as a full-time accounting auditor.

However, even though she was in the auditing field, there remained a flickering light for Smith to fulfil her dream to become a professional fashion designer. This faint hope was rekindled when her younger sister Claudia asked her to make her wedding dress and those of the bridal party. Smith got overwhelmingly positive reviews. It was a wake up call. She knew she had the talent and that she wanted to do more.

“The success of this venture, not to mention the rave reviews from the wedding guests and the groom himself, led me to seriously consider formalising my sewing skills by seeking certification at HEART,” said Smith.

Her sister was thrilled with Smith’s creation. “I liked the dress as it fitted my personality and style. It featured the more elegant and clean lines which I prefer. She delivered on what we had discussed. I was definitely satisfied. Persons who saw my dress were impressed and Karla even received requests to make dresses for bridesmaids at other weddings,” she said.

It was at this point that Smith approached the HEART Trust/NTA Garmex Academy with the expectation that they would help to mould her talent from pure love to being a professional. The journey to professional fashion designer began in October of 2006 at the Apparel Technical Centre (ATC) at Garmex where she successfully completed the three-month NCTVET part-time course in Garment Construction at Level II.

In September 2007, she started the one-year course in fashion design at GARMEX. Smith said that the interview with my facilitator, Sheila Robinson, was very informative and aroused her interest.

“Not only did it have the entrepreneurship course, but it involved aspects of two subjects I did not get the chance to pursue in high school — Clothing and Textiles and Technical Drawing,” she said. “In addition, memories of the portfolio of fashion design drawings I did as a teenager were renewed. This was my first love before I ventured into accounting.”

At GARMEX Sheila Robinson was Smith’s chief instructor.

“Karla was a model trainee who won the student of the month award several times. She also assisted other students with their training especially in Information Technology, an area in which she was already a specialist. She was very meticulous and neat,” Robinson said.

Smith was also spelling bee champion and her team won the entrepreneurship competition. She was also part of a team that represented Garmex at a fashion exposition in Barbados.

Despite these and other engagements, Smith maintained her spirituality. She was often called on to lead devotions at the academy. She was also a part of a mission’s team from her church which went to Cuba. It was part of a balancing act that she knew how to handle. Where others may have buckled under pressure, Smith relished in the experience.

“From the beginning the realisation hit me that HEART was Jamaica’s best kept secret. The cost of the course was way below the value of what we received through the classes, school activities and periodic seminars, expos and exhibitions. The course material, coverage of the subject areas and quality of teaching I received in the main subjects I did (entrepreneurship, personal development, fashion design and language and communication) were very much comparable to tertiary-level studies I’d done previously.”

The major assignments for the portfolio were put together for the final-year fashion show and for Smith, they were about her life, serving as reference material to this day.

“Doing the course and the portfolio really made me think seriously as to what I wanted to do with it. My desire was to apply what I’d learnt in a focused and unique way. Every great designer has their unique mark in the pieces they create. I believe my heavenly Father has placed in me the ability and creativity to do the same and I should aim for nothing less.”

Smith disclosed that she has also been introduced to the Jamaica Fashion and Apparel Cluster (JFAC) through the Jamaica Trade and Invest. She has attended some of their meetings and workshops.

As Smith looks to realise her dream, her chances of success have become even higher with the world-class certification she has received from the HEART Trust/NTA.

At the 2009 certification ceremonies of the HEART Trust/NTA, Smith was presented with the Spirit of HEART award for excellence. Now she is ready for the world of fashion designing.

heart girl: Dr Wayne Wesley, national programmes director at the HEART Trust/NTA, presents the Spirit of HEART trophy to Karla Smith, a graduate of the Garmex HEART Academy, during the final of three regional certification ceremonies for institutions in the South East Region held recently at the Jamaica Conference Centre in Kingston.