We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Erica Simpson. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Erica below.

Erica, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Are you able to earn a full-time living from your creative work? If so, can you walk us through your journey and how you made it happen?

I was very young just out of school. I was employed in a good job with a great salary at the time. I had basically no overheads and barely any financial responsibilities. Life was nice but I am a creative.

I left the job. Why? because I was constantly bored and was always thinking of the what colour combination to mix-up for my fabrics and T-shirts that were waiting for me at home. That 8-4 was not my thing. My parents were mad with me for a while.

I had a plan you see. I always do. You see I bought up all the raw materials and recourses need to “open up my business” and still had a little nest egg stashed away for the rainy day.

I went into full production mode and soon used up everything only to find out that my fabric supplier closed and I just could not source that quality from the other stores plus people’s taste were changing and the icing on the cake was that the country went into a recession. There went my well laid plans.

Hey I am a creative aren’t I? Three lessons learnt.
1.I learnt really fast how to pivot quick by reading the room. People were into home decor by then and wanted unique and different items.
I opened up Kuttage Interiors and provided bespoke creations for my clients.

2. I leveraged my knowledge based skills as there was an increase in persons who wanted to learn to make their own things so I started teaching various crafts and skills and opened my very own craft and sewing school.

3. I went to learn the business of business so I could better understand market forces and research and that things change.

Needless to say that the journey between my leaving the secure 8-4 and this creative life has had it’s ups and fair shares of downs. There was no sure salary every month end but a disciplined approach to money matters.

I did have to go back to a job for a while but I never let go of my creative jobs. They went hand in hand, side by side.
Then came that day when I had my ‘THIS IS IT!” moment for the second time. I was out of there. Quick.

That was over 20 years ago. I have been and I am still earning my living through my creative skills.

Through this learning experience I decided to take the risk to open and curate a creative handmade only retail space for other brave craft entrepreneurs to earn their living full-time as well.

Is there anything that I will do differently,? When I look back I believe that those speedbumps have prepared me for where I am today. Without those hard lessons learnt like in believing in oneself, resilience and sound business sense,
where would I be now.

I remain a proud creative who fully understand the risk that goes along with this calling and yes it is a calling but I will have it no other way.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I am Erica Simpson .Fabric Artist. Craft Tutor. Handbag and Accessory Designer. Business Owner. Proud winner of the very first Art and Culture Award 2024 by National Entrepreneurship Development Company of Trinidad and Tobago

I am a passionate and experienced artisan who have been in the industry for more than 30 years.
Mentor, proud crafter and entrepreneur.
A lover of colour, culture and craft.

Born on the Island of Trinidad, the larger of the twin islands called The Republic of Trinidad and Tobago where several ethnic groups and cultures merge and exist side by side in harmony. We are called a rainbow or callaloo people.
We have the Indigenous First peoples, African, Indian, Chinese, Portuguese, Syrian and other ethnic mixes. With all these different cultures and flavors my creativity blooms.
This is the melting pot from which I draw my inspiration.

I was born into an artisan and business family so the two were always there in some form or fashion.
As a child I would watch my mother sew and create what I thought then was magic from bags and bolts of fabrics.
Soon I took the scraps and made dolls dress in the crudest forms but loved them all.
That was the start into this crafters world for me.

The tinkering then moved to the kitchen because I needed colourful fabrics for my “creations”. Out came the Kool-Aid and food colouring, let’s just say decades later, I am still at it.

Over the years even though I have been involved in many craft disciplines, I have always found t 3 areas drew on my creative side more. Fast forward to the present and what brings me most joy are

1. I really love to share my knowledge with people who are willing to learn and have the discipline to stick to creative and sometime traditional processes involved.

2. Fabric art/ transformation. I just love taking plain piece of fabric and turning it into colourful masterpieces via the techniques of batik, tie-dyed, printing, painting etc.

3. Using those masterpieces and turning them into bespoke unique handbags, resort wear and other fashion accessories for my brand personal KUTTAGE ACCESSORIES which I offer to my clients at our store THE KUTTAGE ARTISAN BOUTIQUE which houses 75 other local small business brands.(The business side of my upbringing).

One of the unique selling points of Kuttage Accessories is the fact that because I create my textile designs and use them to produce handbags and other accessories my clients are guaranteed that when we say there is only one in this style, I mean it. You may get something like it but NEVER it.

I take pride in what we do and cater to that customer who refuse to be part of the crowd and who is comfortable with bold and distinctive colourful accessories.
Kuttage Accessories exist to solve that problem.

After all we value ourself on creating unique and distinctive accessories for those who desire and understand well-made handcrafted artisanal accessories.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

There are two aspects for me that are the most rewarding as a creative.

1. I love to give back via teaching people in the many creative areas that I work in. The transfer of skills and seeing how people use this knowledge to change and improve the lives and situations is so humbling and rewarding.

2. One of the best feelings I get is when I take the plain and boring and transform it into fabulous.
Just seeing how people’s eyes light up when they see or are gifted my creations.

How can we best help foster a strong, supportive environment for artists and creatives?

For me and most others I suspect to is
1. Give us the respect we deserve. Don’t treat us as secondary or in some cases non-existent.
We are so much more. We bring joy and upliftment to your world in more ways than you can imagine.

2. Support us consistently and earnestly. Buy from us. Tell your friends to support us. That’s how the creative eco-system will thrive in today’s society. Just support us!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://kuttageartisanboutique.com/shop/ols/ctegoties/kuttage-accessories
• Instagram: Instagram.com/kuttage_accessories
• Facebook: Https://Facebook.com/kuttageinteriors
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/erica-simpson-73080aab

Image Credits
Ryan Ross Photography Kerwyn Chambers Luke Lashley Erica Simpson