Starting a business is no small feat; keeping it running for over 30 years is legendary.
Managing Director – Designer of Talies Garments Ltd., Corentia Esnard, began her journey in the clothing industry in 1987. What started as a small-scale operation grew, eventually leading to the establishment of T’s Collections, a boutique that has been a fixture on Chaussee Road in Castries for over 20 years.
Esnard attributes her business’ success to the quality of the clothing produced by her team. While fashion trends have continuously evolved, she has cultivated a loyal clientele who shop for both ready-made pieces and custom creations.
“I can confidently say that we are second to none, and as a result, we have our clientele; we have our own customers, and I give God thanks that they continue to patronise our business,” Esnard told St. Lucia Times.
Adaptability, she says, has been essential to her longevity. She and her employees now focus on uniforms—both school and corporate—but a walk through her boutique reveals vibrant Creole wear, with traditional accessories displayed across the counters. Esnard acknowledges, however, that demand for Creole attire has shifted.
“I have seen better years. I think there has been a change in how people celebrate Creole and how they support it over the years; we’ve seen it dwindling,” says Esnard.
She worries that modern styles are increasingly popular among younger generations, potentially disrupting the transmission of traditions.
“What you find is that the younger generation has gravitated toward more modern styles. Right now, we’re considering how we can create a bridge between young and older generations to preserve the culture,” Esnard explains, noting that she sees fewer requests for the traditional “peasant top” design.
Pointing to some tops in the upper racks of her store, Esnard elaborates, “One thing is we haven’t given up on our peasant tops. Back then, it was the thing; today, the styles are different—it’s more modern. But if we stop making them, young people wouldn’t know what they are. So, we keep a touch of tradition, even if it’s requested less each year.”
Peasant tops, or blouses, are traditionally wide necked with ruffled sleeves that frame the shoulders and sleeves. Though the design is now often used in everyday fashion around the world, a more formal use can be seen in Saint Lucia’s national and traditional attire.
The design is thought to have originated in Romania, where it was crafted with detailed embroidery down the sleeves. These garments are said to have told stories of social status and personal experiences through symbolic stitching that expressed cultural narratives.
The blouse gained broader appeal in the 1920s when Queen Marie of Romania brought it into mainstream fashion, inspiring global adaptations. In Saint Lucia, this style became incorporated into Creole and now national dress.
Esnard says the style is significant to her, recalling its prominence during her childhood:
“In my early years, I grew up with this style. You’d see people dancing the quadrille, and, coming from a history of slavery, they celebrated whenever they could. People would wear these tops with floral skirts and dance the quadrille. It’s part of who we were.”
She hopes that preserving Creole customs will be a collective effort. “I do believe that those in authority or society need to come together and make this what it should be. Our ancestors believed in this, that was their lifestyle, they celebrated.”
Esnard also believes that with a full calendar of activities organised by the Folk Research Center, Cultural Development Foundation and other state organisations, Creole Month can be celebrated with even more enthusiasm. “Creole is for the whole month of October, however, most focus just on the weekend, the climax of the celebration, [Jounen Kwéyòl]. I believe if we work together to build awareness throughout the month, it will create more patriotism. People might wear Creole fabric all month, building up excitement. But we tend to wait until the last week to fully embrace it. Creole Month should be celebrated all month long, and we need to protect it.”
If you want to preserve the Creole fashion, you must create programmes around the Creole fashion. Just like jounen Kwéyol was created to encourage celebration of the Kwéyol traditions. You can have a fashion expo during the Kwéyol heritage month, where fashionistas come with their most elaborate couture in an attempt to win first prize. Why not have a soirée of mask ball or bal masqué with traditional attire, traditional music played by a band and dancing of the traditional dances. Perhaps dinning afterwards in Kwéyol foods and local drinks. Make the occasion one of class and sophistication. How about having a night or weekend where Sir Derek Walcott plays are performed in a theatre setting and every attendee must be dressed in traditional attire…there is much that can be done to encourage the appreciation of our culture but organisers need vision and imagination….
@C-Wiz very nice ideas –
[A Creole Extravaganza event/banquet] featuring all ages and all things creole, fashion show, dancers, music, comedy, quizzes for interpretation of difficult creole words etc. etc. etc. – with prices to be won through collaboration with the businesses, hotels etc.
You can sell tickets to include food, drinks and entertainment. Your prices could be TVs, Trips, I pads, Cell phones etc. etc. etc. If you want to take it really big time – you can even host a Miss Creole & Mr. Creole pageant with representatives from each community. I have just provided you all with some free advice.
START IN THE SCHOOLS…. We know how it went and IS STILL GOING to this day, some of us refuse to speak and embrace our Native tongue we don’t want or forbid our children to do so [they] view it as “low class” “A BADGE OF SHAME “……even wannabe head of government CANNOT SPEAK OUR NATIVE TOUNGE that alone should make you disqualified for that job……but this St Lucia “you can buy your way in” and become that party’s choice overnight (so American) THE ABSOLUTE SHAME OF IT. Which head of state cannot speak his or her native tongue ??? Unless they are not a “bonafide citizen of said country “ like they keep insinuating they are. Teaching about our culture and speaking our native tongue IS THE BEST method of persevering our Saint Lucian Roots and Heritage. ITS UNPATRIOTIC AND UN SAINT LUCIAN NOT TO SPEAK YOUR NATIVE TONGUE…….and for the usual critiques of various alias (they know themselves of course….Oh Really where hart thou) learning to write and speak your native tongue is not a substitute to read, command, and understand the proper usage of The English language
Those are all good ideas. We need a more innovative and fresh approach to Kweyol Heritage Month.
@C-WIZ and @Jay – very commendable comments, and thoughts for discussion and processing. I have known Talies for ages, and she is on the right path (and thoughts).
As for “DOOM & GLOOM” Mr TMHLH – I grew up in a household where our native tongue was used a lot, and was never looked down upon, as so were our neighbours and other family members. This so-called looking down on our cultural heritage was never an issue in the household I grew up in. Also, there are A LOT of PARIOTIC St Lucians who revere our culture and heritage. Whoever you are referring to are in the minority. And FYI there is a Kweyol Dictionary authored by our very own Jason “Bachelor” Joseph. And while I’m on the subject of dictionaries – please learn to spell and how to use the grammar properly. It is truly painful to read your comments.