By Joel Vogt
Waist beads are deemed a symbol of femininity, spirituality, sensuality and fertility in West African traditions. Globally, however, the tradition of wearing waist beads has moved beyond culture and customs to aesthetics.
This accessory is made of small beads which are placed on a string or wire and worn about the body. They are usually colourful, of different shapes and contains decorative stones and charms.
In Guyana, 19-year-old Aquila Scott of South Ruimveldt, Georgetown, has established her very own beading business, Adorned Creative Expressions, which aims to make women of all shapes and sizes feel beautiful.
The second year Communication Studies student of the University of Guyana has been making waist beads and other accessories since 2018.
Just after she graduated from St. Stanislaus College, Scott found herself bored at home as she sought job opportunities. During this time the teenager would spend most of her time browsing social media. It was there that she discovered waist beads. Fascinated by what she saw, Scott, embarked upon an extensive research project to learn more about the accessory.
“After days of being bored in the house, I decided to buy the material and when I started, I had no one to help me, but YouTube videos. So I started making them with beads and straw material then as I researched more, I got more material to make them properly,” she told Village Voice Guyana.
After acquiring an understanding of the tradition of waist bead wearing, Scott said she ventured into making the beads which her friends thought were beautiful, unique and worthy of sale. Though she had the encouragement of her peers, Scott feared that the business would not succeed.
“My friends have been pushing me to start selling the waist beads for years, but I was afraid that it would fail so I was unsure for about a year. Last year, I started UG and was still making them for my friends and eventually a friend told a friend and a whole chain reaction started,” the young entrepreneur recalled.
With an increase in demand for waist and other beads, Scott said she struggled to stay focused on her academics. But she did not give up. In fact, she found creative ways of managing her studies and the increase in demand for the waist beads.
Scott disclosed that her business, Adorned Creative Expressions was officially established on June 19, 2020.
“That same day, my friend Omaiah Hall made the Instagram page for my business, Adorned Creative Expressions and also developed it by uploading pictures of the waist beads and my customers. Now I have two online platforms, Facebook and Instagram,” the proud young woman said.
Though she specializes in waist and other beads, Scott does not plan to limit herself. She intends to expand her business to cater to all forms of fashion and art.
“Customers usually specify exactly what they’d like to have and whatever accessory they want, is made to suite their liking,” the 19-year-old entrepreneur said. Scott sources some of her material locally from Guyana Stores while others, such as gemstones, charms and lava beads are imported. However, that is not without its challenges, particularly with the existing COVID-19 pandemic.
“With the COVID-19 pandemic, flights were delayed and sometimes I would schedule to do a specific style for a specific time and wouldn’t be able to because of that,” she said. But that is not her only challenge. As the waist beads business catches on in Guyana, the competition and demand increases. Scott told Village Voice Guyana that one time she was accused of copying the work of another waist bead designer.
“One time an older waist bead designer tried to call me out on stealing her ideas, and it led to a major misunderstanding when she publicly tried to humiliate me on social media,” she said noting that the issue was subsequently resolved though was discouraged from continuing her small business.
“There are people in the market who usually sell them [waist beads], but there isn’t much variety. I wanted to get into a field [where] I would be able to offer something different,” the teenager said noting that being accused copying from another bead designer did not damage her business, but helped it grow.
That incident motivated Scott to be even more creative so that she stays ahead of her competitors. She said she strives to offer her customers unique designs so that they have a sense of pride in the items bought.
The young entrepreneur told Village Voice Guyana that her business continues to grow and her clientele is impressed with her work. “At first I didn’t know about the different types of beads and gemstones. As I got into it, customers started demanding styles that were new to me and I started educating myself; I can say I make a reasonable profit,” said the University of Guyana student who has collaborated with two other small businesses, Trendy Styles 592 and Sensual Vende, to better market and sell her products.
Scott said she feels a sense of pride when her customers are pleased with their accessories and it is her intention to make Adorned Creative Expressions what she terms a “bead haven”. The young woman wants to import the materials she uses in bulk so that she would be able to mass produce beaded jewelry.
“My short term goal right now is to perfect the craft and start exporting beaded jewelry,” she said.
Persons interested in contacting Scott can visit Facebook and Instagram pages by searching for her business name: Adorned Creative Expressions.
