Meet Kaymarie Daniel | Fashion Designer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Kaymarie Daniel and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Kaymarie, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
I wanted to be a voice for young aspiring designers within my country (St. Vincent and the Grenadines) but especially on my island, Bequia. Being from the Caribbean we’re expected to walk on a straight and narrow road and be a doctor or lawyer, but I wanted to show others that we set our own paths and we should be allowed to do what makes us happy. Designing and making my own swimsuits and beach apparels gives me a sense of freedom that nothing else does. It makes me even happier seeing others wearing those designs and feeling good doing so.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I think what sets MarieKays apart from other brands is that we ensure that all of our customers are treated fairly and everything is made to the best of our ability. Most pieces are custom made to fit your body types. A lot of other brands aren’t considerate towards people who don’t wear universal sizes, not because I’m a small top means I’m a small bottom and I know how frustrating it is to find your perfect fitting because I too struggle with this. We cater to a more realistic clientele. I got here through persistence. I worked really hard for this. So many long nights and long hours just to ensure I have the knowledge and skill set I now possess. There were many sacrifices my team and I had to make to get MarieKays to where it’s at now. It’s the main reason I moved from my country to the US and to Miami. My journey has not been easy at all. There were so many nights I wanted to give up, so many days I had work on less than an hour of sleep, but I knew this is what I wanted so I stuck to it. MarieKays placed 4th throughout the region by the Karibbean Kollective magazine and that motivated me in so many ways because I’m always so hard on myself, especially with the limited resources back home, everything was 10 times harder so that feature really made me feel seen for my work and showed me I was on the right path. I want the world to understand that everything is possible if you want it enough. Working hard and having the right support system is so important. Even when you fail, that’s apart of the process, trial and error is what got me to this position and I love learning. Have an open mind and put your best foot forward, always.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Wynwood is definitely my favorite place since being in Miami. It is so beautiful! The art there is so amazing and don’t talk about all the different cultures shown in the marketplace. My favorite restaurants there are Dukonoo and Le Chic, lucky for me, they’re very close to each other.

However, that’s if you’re in Miami.
If you’re visiting my beautiful St. Vincent and the Grenadines. We must go hiking La Soufriere which is our volcano for the beautiful views and crisp air, take a drive around the country side and have some of their delicacies and learn about the history from the elders there. Then we’re going straight to bequia!
Oh my gosh! If you’ve never heard about bequia, please google it. You’d thank me later. It is so beautiful. The beaches are clean and so clear. We must go diving or snorkeling with Ron at Dive adventures. If you’ve never swam between schools of fishes, this is the place for you. Then we’re going to Macs pizzeria. The pizza there is to die for, it’s so good!
We must take a spa day at the sunny spa, the workers there are so nice to you and you can feel how genuine they are. I had a massage there once and fell asleep and the masseuse left me to sleep and even told me what part of my body needed help after, I was so impressed!
The best thing about visiting St. Vincent and the Grenadines is that you can never get bored as a visitor. There’s 32 islands and Cays and each island has its own piece of history and it’s own personality.
The people are so pleasant and nice. The food is so good and I’m in no way being bias. The fruits come directly from the trees, no preservatives, everything’s fresh and one of my personal favorite things is that everyone looks out for the planet so everyone picks up after themselves or is expected to.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I launched my first collection at the positive vibes festival hosted by The Hub Collective and that was my first stepping stone. My aunt Danielle Collinson and my papa ‘Gilly’ pushed me in so many ways and helped me throughout launching my business both financially and mentally. I’m grateful that they never placed any questions in my mind that this was my path. My friends bought and wore my designs so I would’ve been able to get more recognition through social media platforms. My other family members that helped to push my business whether it be through word of mouth or even to be seen wearing them. I was lucky to be surrounded with people that genuinely wanted this for me because they saw what I was capable of.

Instagram: @mariekay_