Meet Kerry MacMaster: Owner & Designer – Everything CropOver

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

Hi Kerry, every day, we about how much execution matters, but we think ideas matter as well. How did you come up with the idea for your business?
My business started because of my love for CropOver/ Carnival. My first “jump up” was at CropOver in 2014 (with Baje International) – and I LOVED the experience… the feathers, the bling, the costumes, the vibes, the music, the rum. It was like nothing I had experienced before, as I grew up in Australia. The following years I jumped with Zulu International, Aura (their first and second years), and also at Miami Carnival with BajanFuhEva Mas Band. I’m obsessed with glitter and bling, so I started to bling out cups, dresses and accessories for myself, for CropOver/ Carnival fetes, and to match my costumes for Grand Kadooment/ Carnival. Friends (and strangers) would notice my bling cups (or sparkly outfits) and comment on how pretty they looked, and would ask where I got them from. Once I explained that I made them, they started requesting their own bling cups and accessories. By the summer of 2018 I realised that there was a demand for this type of product, so I researched suppliers for the cups, as well as ordering gems in bulk, and the business grew from there! Last year I also had the opportunity to design a section for a CropOver band in Barbados, and I thoroughly enjoyed the new challenge! Over the past two years I have introduced more products to the line up (like wire bras, feather backpacks, mink lashes and even bling face masks!), but the bling cups will always have a special place in my heart. 

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I’ve always enjoyed creating things, and I’m a very visual person. I studied photography and design at university, and was a professional photographer for around 15 years, before focusing my time and energy into growing my current business (Everything CropOver). Whilst I’m not the first person to create bling cups, I’ve really tried to create a certain aesthetic and maintain consistency in the look of the bling cups, despite all bling cups being unique in their bling design – no two are exactly the same! I create a lot of custom accessories for my clients, and I love when they come to me with a concept but allow me total freedom in the design process. Last year a client requested some feather decorations, with an african tribal theme, for their wedding arch. It was so much fun to create! Although the road has had a few bumps along the way, I look at each bump as an opportunity to learn and grow. I’m a great believer in it only being a mistake if you don’t learn from it! One of the biggest bumps I had was earlier this year when the pandemic caused a lot of borders to close. This severely restricted access to stock from some of my original suppliers, most notably the fabric for my face masks. I had originally sourced flags for the face masks late last year (before I realised just how in demand masks would be!), as I noticed they were becoming more popular at j’ouverts and Carnivals. Once the pandemic hit, my masks (mostly with Caribbean country flags, and bling masks), really started selling quickly. Unfortunately I could not receive any new fabric from my original supplier, due to the closed borders, so I had to research and source a new supplier within the US, as quickly as possible, who could produce the fabric I needed. Luckily I eventually found one that I was happy with the quality. Normally it takes time finding new suppliers and getting samples etc but this was condensed into two weeks! It was a stressful time, and I tried to be patient with myself. We grow through challenging times and I kept reminding myself that I am so grateful to be able to do what I love every day. My brand is still new, and I’m always interested in meeting new clients for custom designs. I’d love to work with some more carnival bands designing costumes in the future, so I’m definitely looking forward to the days when we can (safely) have fetes and carnivals again. For those who have never experienced Carnival or CropOver, just remember Carnival is for everybody and every body!

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.
I’m sure my family will be visiting me from Australia once the borders open again. When they come to visit I would start them off with brunch (with a twist) at R House in Wynwood, followed by a walk through the Wynwood Walls and surrounding area to see all the beautiful and unique street art (wall art?). We’d also visit the iconic South Beach, the ICA, and the Vizcaya Museum/Gardens. I would take them across to the lighthouse at Cape Florida (Key Biscayne), and for a drive along the coast up to Jupiter. I know they would love to see alligators in the Everglades. And they are foodies so I’d take them to Mojo Donuts, Ichiyami Sushi, La Camaronera, Arbetter’s Hot Dogs and Knaus Berry Farm for their delicious sticky buns.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I’ve been blessed to have many supportive friends and family members who have encouraged me in my creative ventures over the years. In Barbados my friends Corey Springer and Sheriann Norris not only encouraged my to create a business out of my passion, but also helped promote my business to their large audiences on social media, which definitely helped my business reach new audiences and grow quickly. In Miami I was honored to work with Sonia Hinds (Bajan Fuh Evah) at their costume distribution for the past couple of years, again allowing me to reach new clients and grow my business, as well as gain a glimpse into the inner workings of a Mas Band.

Website: www.everythingcropover.com
Instagram: www.instagram.com/everythingcropover
Facebook: www.facebook.com/everythingcropover
Other: Etsy: www.etsy.com/shop/EverythingCropOverUS

Image Credits
Kerry MacMaster Photography