CARIFESTA-Bound Tarriba do Nascimiento Talks Même Bête…

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For a decade now, owner and Creative Director of ‘Même Bête…’, Tarriba do Nascimiento, has focused on providing the best in handmade, luxury leather bags, to the delight of her growing list of customers. But the entrepreneur is not about to sit on her many accomplishments, as she strives to push her company on to new heights. Busy preparing for this month’s CARIFESTA in T&T, do Nascimiento found the time to fit STAR Businessweek into her busy schedule, to discuss ‘Même Bête…’ 

Tarriba do Nascimiento, CEO of Même Bête, pictured with one of her signature leather bags.

How did it all get started?

do Nascimiento: I went to Ethiopia to do business development work with business women and a lot of them were crafters and artisans so I saw a lot of the type of work that they did. Ethiopia has a well defined leather industry and it was very interesting to me. They make all sorts of leather products like bags; so I thought I would make some nice Afro-centric bags. I started doing it as a little side job, but some time after I started doing the bags full time. 

What’s the difference between then and now?

do Nascimiento: My skills have improved tremendously. It has moved from being a side gig to a formal business with a location and staff and everything. We export now. A lot of styles we do are some of the styles I did ten years ago and you can just see the improvement in the finishing and in the refinement of the design.

What inspires the styles?

do Nascimiento: It started off being Afro-centric but that was when I was in Africa. Now that I’ve moved back to Saint Lucia I’m trying to make it a little more tropical so I’ve changed my prints a lot. I still do a little bit of Afro-centric prints, so I like to keep that option but, for the most part, I use anything that’s colourful and bright, fun and vibrant.

What’s the reason for the name ‘Même Bête…’?

do Nascimiento: I wanted a creole name that people would remember. I want everything that I do with ‘Même Bête…’ 

to be synonymous with Saint Lucia. Also to highlight the fact that there’s no difference, we’re all the same.

Who makes up your main market?

do Nascimiento: Saint Lucians and diaspora Saint Lucians from New York, New Jersey and Maryland. Now that I have been doing more of the tropical prints, I’m capturing a little more of the tourist market. 

Même Bête proudly represented at a recent exhibition

What’s the price range of the bags?

do Nascimiento: Anywhere from US$10 to US$550. It all depends on the materials used and the amount of work it takes to make the bag. 

How would you describe the demand for your products?

do Nascimiento: Well it’s seasonal for sure. We have to stay creative to ensure that in the off-season we can still keep our head above water while we bide our time for the busier seasons. 

What seasons are busy?

do Nascimiento: First, Jounen Kweyol. We cannot sell creole things at any other time of the year; nobody really buys them, but during the season we sell so much madras stuff. Christmas, of course, is a good time as well. So is carnival. You have the diaspora that come in for carnival.

What are you expecting from CARIFESTA?

do Nascimiento: I’m expecting a warm welcome from the Trinidad people. I have quite a few customers over there. I’m looking forward to them getting to know the brand and I’m looking forward to the sales.

Where do you see your business going in the next five years?

do Nascimiento: I would like to expand but I need demand to increase more. Right now we can produce more than we actually sell, and that needs to be reversed. I’m trying to capture an overseas audience year round. I do have an online store but I need to embark on some sort of international campaign, get a publicist or somebody like that who can help me properly penetrate the US market.

Is CARIFESTA a prelude to that expansion?

do Nascimiento: To me it’s more an extension of what I already do here in Saint Lucia. The region is small, and you can get the regional people coming in and buying but there are also millions and millions of people in North America and Europe. That’s what I need to go into. 

If you’re interested in getting authentic handmade luxury bags, you can visit the Même Bête website: memebete.com  or its Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/meme.bete/