Transitioning from fashion to business: The art mastered by Michelle Cole-Wagner

By Jemima Holmes

On the occasion of International Women’s Day 2023, it is pertinent to continue spotlighting women who continue to make strides, not only for their fellow women but for people in general.

One such Guyanese woman is Michelle Cole-Wagner, who in a matter of weeks or months, will step headfirst into the business world after acing the fashion sphere.

However, Cole is no stranger to this new arena. In fact, having to forge a path for herself early in her design career, has armed Cole-Wagner with the right tools to conquer the world of business. The renowned fashion designer said it is

CoLabs: “This was an idea that was suggested by David, who is actually a partner in this CoLabs venture and it was to create a home for creatives to collaborate and make dreams happen.”

“My interest in the co-working space started from FACTS - Fashion, Art and Creativity by Talented students, a programme that was housed at this same location, under Facts and Roses and Cole Facts. It saw the birth of David, Randy Madray, Mwanza Glenn.

So, for me, it was the perfect idea for what I was going to do with the building either way,” she went on to state.

From fashion to business one of her burning passions.

For decades, ColeWagner has enjoyed glamourous success in the fashion world in Guyana and abroad. Now, she will face off with a new challenge; the world of business.

“From a very early age, I became more interested in the art but then I transitioned very early to the business of fashion. For me, I loved art, I loved creating but I also wanted to be successful and profitable, so that I can be in a position to branch off and do other things,” Cole-Wagner told <<<Guyana Times>>> exclusively.

The designer was at the time discussing “CoLabs”, a collaborative space for all creatives, that will offer Guyanese artists a professional space in which to hone their skills.

The CoLabs venture, according to Cole-Wagner, was birthed about half a decade ago and the idea was further developed by her former student and now business partner David Clarke.

The CoLabs space, located on Garnett Street, Kitty, Georgetown, contains 5 creative hubs, catering for music, visual art, photography and fashion design.

Cole-Wagner said bout

As she mentioned before, the designer has always possessed an understanding and appreciation for the link between her designs and business, but now, with CoLabs, her inner businesswoman is coming through.

“So, as a young fashion designer when I started, there was no space really. I think I had to create that space. I never attended Burrowes School of Art which was the closest,” ColeWagner related to Guyana Times, as she discussed the need for such a place for local creatives.

Shifting her focus to the business savvy attributes she needed to pull off the CoLabs building, ColeWagner explained, “One of the things I always say, even when working with the FACTS students, is fashion does not only mean making clothes. It means taking that concept all the way to that final product, but it doesn’t end when you finish that final product. It’s the marketing of that product to make it go from you to your customers to a wider range audience.”