The arrival of thousands of Venezuelans in Trinidad and Tobago looking for socioeconomic alternatives has brought with them the inspiration and ideas of many migrants who show the local community their intention of help the TT economy.
Two of these migrants are cousins Yennifer Muñoz Ramírez and Ingrid Díaz. Their plans for self-improvement have led them to create their own women's clothing factory in TT: Luce Latina.
Ramírez told Newsday: “It is a small business we are starting, but it is our pride, it is like a newborn baby seeks to strengthen every day, not only for us, but also for this country opening its doors to us and needs a lot of our help to keep growing.”
[caption id="attachment_977419" align="alignnone" width="1024"] Joint owners Venezuelan migrants Ingrid Diaz, left, looks on as Yennifer Muñoz Ramirez works on a pattern at their Luce Latina workshop in Cunupia. Photo by Angelo Marcelle[/caption]
Both women, who have spent more than three years in TT, are professionals who studied in Venezuela and have made a long journey through women's fashion there.
“We started this business in November 2021 out of the need to earn extra money by taking advantage of the talent and knowledge we have in the clothing industry,” Ramírez said.
The initial idea came from another cousin, Cynthia Muñoz Ramírez.
“She was part of Luce Latina, but for reasons of not having the opportunity of school education for her six-year-old daughter, she had to leave TT and return to Venezuela.”
Ramírez, a student of economics and new trends, and Díaz, a specialist in cutting, sewing, knitting, and embroidery with more than 25 years of experience, make the perfect combination.
“With the investment process, we began to investigate if they sold the necessary machines for producing basic garments here. Then we visited the fabric stores, the haberdashery and the other stores for equipment needed to start a sewing workshop,” Ramirez recalled.
Diaz said after getting all the information, calculating accounts and analysing the market, they decided to start Luce Latina.
“We bought the sewing machines, tables and other tools and we started to make trendy swimsuits. We made it public through some networks and since then we have not stopped growing,” Ramirez said.
They invested $20,000 to start the project.
Today, Luce Latina is inspired by the creation of trendy garments for Caribbean women.
[caption id="attachment_977417" align="alignnone" width="1024"] Venezuelan seamstress Yennifer Muñoz Ramirez sews a piece of fabric at Luce Latina TT’s workshop in Cunupia. Photo by Angelo Marcelle[/caption]
"We can make garments for girls, boys and men – but we are focused on women, working with 100 per-cent local materials...fabrics, threads, zippers, chains, lace,” Ramírez said.
They work directly with the client. Ramírez explained the women come to her workshop, show the design they want and, together with the seamstresses, work on improving the ideas, colours, sizes and models. Custom garments take between three and four d
