When Cayman InStyle Fashion Week took place at the Ritz-Carlton Grand Cayman in April 2023, the focus was mainly on international designers and overseas talent. Out of interest in getting to know the Caymanian designers that participated in the event, Loop News caught up with Miriam Rodriguez, the Owner/Manager of Becky’s Closet. In addition to sharing her designs, Rodriguez recounted how she got her start in the business and some of the challenges faced by her and other Caymanian designers.
Early days
Attributing some of her influences to “the outfits of Veronica and Betty from the Archie comic days,” Rodriguez said she “started designing at a very young age.”
While growing up, she said she also watched her mother designing and sewing, which led Rodriguez to design and sew her own wardrobe for her first job in the corporate world in 1978.
Unfortunately, Rodriguez could not continue designing at the level she would have liked, mostly “due to work demands.”
Circumstances change Rodriguez’s fate
Thirty years later, in almost what seemed to be a twist of fate for Rodriguez, she established Becky’s Closet in 2016, currently located at 90 Godfrey Nixon Way in George Town.
Regarding the circumstances that altered her trajectory, Rodriguez explained:
I lost my job in 2014, but as fate would have it, I had purchased a machine one year prior, which made it very easy to emerge myself into what I realized was my true passion.
Now my business has become a “house of designers” and I am very excited for what the future holds.
Customers of Becky’s Closet
Having now put herself in the business full-time, Rodriguez explained that the typical customer of Becky’s Closet is a person who “usually… appreciates fashion and is looking to make a statement.”
Concerning the type of fashion, Rodriguez said that “Becky’s Closet focuses on both women’s and men’s couture wear but still maintains its ready-to-wear niche.”
Making the brand known
In terms of getting the business’s name out there, Rodriguez explained that this has been chiefly done via “word of mouth,” which she said has “thankfully been extremely effective in getting our progress as a new Fashion group/design house across.”
In addition to word of mouth, Rodriguez noted that Becky’s Closet “has since become more popular through social media” (you can find Becky’s Closet on Instagram at beckyscloset345).
Becky’s Closet has also found its way onto the runway, as previously mentioned, at Cayman InStyle Fashion Week in April.
Commenting on the experience at Cayman InStyle Fashion Week, Rodriguez said:
Cayman Fashion Week was a good experience and it brought some excitement to the fashion community on Island.
Kudos to the organizers.
As to what Becky’s Closet shared at Cayman InStyle Fashion Week, Rodriguez explained:
The design team decided that our first year on CIFW stage had to be a mix of ready to wear and high fashion, as to represent the different aesthetics from members of the team.
All of this was thoughtfully put together in 1 collection dubbed “Arabian nights.”
Rodriguez continued: “From the music mix to the accessories and clothing, we aimed for a balanced high fashion/ready-to-wear collection.”
When asked what she thought of the idea of more fashion shows in Cayman, particularly one that focuses on “100% Caymanian designers,” Rodriguez commented on the challenges in achieving this feat.
She explained:
While I am a true supporter of Caymanian talent and we have much talent in many areas, I would have to say that I feel there are not enough Caymanians in the designing business. For that reason, I think it would be difficult to put on a fashion show with 100% Caymanians.
However, there is definitely an opportunity to put on a fashion show with all “local” designers and it is our aim to do just that in the near future.
When Rodriguez referred to “local” designers, it appears that she meant “Cayman-based” designers, including Caymanian designers.
This was clear when she said:
By mixing Caymanian designers and other designers who work on island, we could have a spectacular show without having to invite any international designers.
What we need is different perspectives on fashion in order to put on a good show, and we have that here on island.
Encouraging more “locals” to become designers
Given Rodriguez’s affinity for Cayman-based talent, Loop News asked her what three tips she would give to a young person in Cayman who would like to pursue a career as a designer.
Rodriguez shared the following:
[Three] tips I would give any young person interested in becoming a designer would be:-
1. Figure out what will make them unique as a designer.
2. Locate and research their target market.
3. Don’t try to compete with anyone other than themselves. Always focus on outdoing yourself.
Former Miss World Cayman Rashana Hydes (Photo credit: O’neil Russell)
For those who follow fashion and would like to learn more about Becky’s Closet, more information can be found on the business’s Facebook and Instagram pages below:
Facebook: Becky’s Closet/Uniforms & More
Instagram: beckyscloset345