You may be surprised to know that the small island nation of St. Vincent and the Grenadines has a thriving and dynamic fashion scene. There are several exciting women designers who have found their voices, producing modern takes on traditional island attire, handcrafted jewelry and accessories. Caribbean fashion events, local shops and a thoughtful and vibrant web presence, have provided avenues for these designers to showcase and market their creations.
We spoke to Kimya Glasgow, Karen De Freitas and Odini Sutherland to get a feel for each of their brands and to learn about their creative journey. What we discovered is that while they are all busy developing their respective brands, they are all committed to collaborating with other local creatives. They also have a committment to supporting community inititives through philanthropic work and sharing knowledge with other entrepreneurs.
In the aftermath of the 2021 eruptions of La Soufrière volcano on St. Vincent, Karen started The Tallawah Collective with fellow Vincentian artists to assist in the local disaster relief efforts. Through the sale of graphic t-shirts, posters, hats and fine art prints, The Tallawah Collective raised funds for families affected by the volcanic eruptions. Kimya is committed to offering mentorship and coaching to help emerging small business owners and she is actively involved in the Fashion Association of SVG. Odini Sutherland has been working with Threadworks, a non profit organization in Bequia that teaches women to sew. Threadworks then employs some of the graduates of the programme to produce clothing, embroidery and upholstery.
All their brands are available for sale at the Common Ground stores in St. Vincent and Bequia, which carry 23 local brands, including fashion apparel and accessories, fragrance, skin care products, footwear, books and art.
Peta Odini
Odini Sutherland, who designs under the label Peta Odini, designs clothing that reflects a cosmopolitan, contemporary Caribbean sensibility. Garments are designed to be mixed and matched, with a relaxed and colourful aesthetic. She designs each item, cuts the pattern and then the clothes are stitched by local seamstresses.
The brand Peta Odini is known for menswear and androgynous styles but she plans to expand her brand and is now focusing on women’s wear due to popular demand.
Odini is also involved with the brand Thread Works and has been designing for the brand for the last two years. Thread Works is a non-profit organization which was established in 2018 to train women in Bequia to sew. The organization now employs 9 seamstresses who are graduates of the programme and Thread Works count cruise ships passengers, yachties and visiting tourists as customers.
Peta Odini collections have been presented at various Caribbean fashion events and the brand’s “Slow Boat” collection debuted at the 50th edition of Portugal Fashion Week in Porto.
Peta Odini clothing is available for purchase at Common Ground in St. Vincent and Bequia and online Here

Karen De Freitas
Karen De Freitas is an all round creative, emphasizing quality craftsmanship, thoughtful narratives and culturally rich textiles. Her work has found an audience with people who appreciate both the artistry behind the garments and their effortless wearability. Her fashion
brand offers clothing, beauty products and accessories for women and men under the brands Soka, Sokanaval and Charles + Olive.
Karen studied textile design, which gave her a strong foundation in printmaking and pattern development and this expertise is evident throughout her collections. Each piece is individually designed and she often collaborates with local artisans.
Karen’s work was featured at Paris Fashion Week 2024 with the debut of her Spring/Summer 2025 collection, “Canboulay.” The Soka brand has also appeared at other fashion events in Brooklyn, Bermuda and Jamaica and was featured in several magazines.
Her clothing is available for purchase at Common Ground in St. Vincent and Bequia and you can also have a look at her website.

Kimya
Kimya sees her eponymous label as a lifestyle brand, celebrating Caribbean heritage, using natural fibers, airy linens, and soft, flowing cottons and incorporating indigenous motifs and hieroglyphs symbols. Her clothes are made in St. Vincent and her accessories are made in collaboration with a local goldsmith and a jewelry designer. Kimya also produces fragrances which she blends in Martinique and she says that the sales of her fragrance, Vanilla Orchid kept her brand going during the pandemic.
She has shown her work at several regional showcases, including Caribbean Fashion Week.
Kimya has won numerous grants and has been a beneficiary of several accelerator programmes which she says have shown her the importance of training and mentorship. In turn she has worked as a trainer and mentor for SMEs and social enterprises and she has formed her own business-coaching service offering one-to-one coaching for creative SMEs.
Her clothing and fragrances are available for purchase at Common Ground in St. Vincent and Bequia and in Mustique and on her website.
