Sketching sucess

Cassandra Blake, top clothing and fashion final-year student at the Montego Bay Community College, embodies the true meaning of finding your passion.

From as early as seven years old, Blake recalls sketching on any paper she could get her hands on – a habit which would eventually morph into fashion design. Now 27, and with 20 years of stitching experience, design is an integral part of her life. It wasn’t always so…

“My passion for six years was track and field although I was still sketching on paper almost every day, ” shares the former sprinter who was not convinced that fashion designing was her true calling. Indeed, it was her training partner who encouraged her to take those daily sketches to another level. “I was on a break during training and my friend told me to buy a sketch pad, which I did with my last one thousand dollars,” she admits. Buying that sketch pad five years ago was an investment that would land Blake the Best Creative Wear in her first year of studies, leading to an Associate Degree in Clothing and Fashion and her personal fashion line, NV Designs.

Toying between athletics and design was not the only challenge Blake faced. “My father was a single parent, there was no mom around; plus, being raised in the Flanker community of MoBay was a challenge. I persevered and I’ve succeeded, but not without the help of many like local MoBay fashion designer Pablo Palair, who identified my talent and provided a creative platform for me.There was also MoBay entrepreneur and yoga guru Sharon Feanny, Toby’s Resort’s Shane Chin and my husband Neil Vickers. All gave financial and emotional support.”

Blake describes her fashion skills as a “gift” and expresses the thrill of being able to translate a mere sketch into a physical piece. “I love fashion designing because I get the opportunity to make people look and feel good”, she says. Her collection — some 30 pieces — captures elements of both Europe and Africa.

Blake, whose ultimate dream is to further hone her skills at New York’s Fashion Institute of Technology, wants others to be motivated by her success. “I want young people to understand that one’s past doesn’t (necessarily) determine one’s future and the importance of seizing opportunities.”