Joe Shooman [email protected]
Clothing designer, concert co-organiser, Youtube star, motivational speaker – it’s all in a year’s work for Luigi Moxam.
He tells Weekender that 2011 was a brilliantly varied 12 months for his own career as a creative entrepreneur of Cayman.
“One highlight was the opening of the Swanky Shack, One Tree Four Five’s first retail store. This has been a true journey from a grass roots level in the evolution of a brand that is committed to being socially-conscious. I have the same outlook in wanting to collaborate with other artists and share the same need to express ourselves in Cayman in a creative way.
“The Swanky Shack is an opportunity for other artists and myself to have that creative outlet. I couldn’t be happier and the brand is now being recognised around the world,” he tells us.
When Kelly met Kirky
Brilliantly, one of the iconic shirts – Drink More Swanky, featuring the well-known local character Mr. Kirky – has been picked up by international superstar Kelly Rowland.
“I was in LA with Serena, Venus and some of them and laid out some of my top ladies shirts on the table there. Kelly picked up the Drink More Swanky tank top; she wore it on a reality TV show and it was the premiere. Kirky was all over the place – it was great that all of the shirts it was that one; a lot of people have appreciation for it.
“Not knowing Kirky or Cayman, Kelly asked me what swanky was, so I told her. It’s the same with other people, they get an insight into what the brand represents and the concept. Kelly loved all of them. I’m not trying to name drop but there was a host of other people, including Beyonce. We had a great year of getting international recognition.” he says.
“Kirky is a good friend of mine and I am happy to see how one T-shirt, in addition to his personality, has helped this community look out for him. Whether you are from Cayman originally you are part of the community and that is what it’s all about. Kelly Rowland wants to meet him!”
New York Times
Within a month of the shack’s opening, it was named by the New York Times as among the 14 best-kept secrets of the Caribbean – a huge deal by anybody’s standards.
“Being the only one from Cayman was truly a proud moment for me. I always look at the bigger picture around me – what is good for me is good for Cayman and what is good for Cayman is good for me.”
Another huge moment, says Luigi, is Jason Gilbert’s winning of a Grammy.
“It is a great example that you can work on things and they get recognised on an international level; part of a winning Grammy team. That is huge.”
Another project with which Luigi is involved is a series of Youtube videos produced by the Department of Tourism which take a ground-level look at what the islands offer. Rather than a slick, professional set of adverts, these short films are engaging, funny and full of character.
“A lot of artists have been trying to emphasise this from a long time ago; there is definitely a creative movement going on in Cayman and the only people who are really dialled in from a marketing standpoint are realising the people are the greatest asset.
“To share that with the world as the Department of Tourism are doing with Caymankind is great, taking the step of faith to do something innovative and creative. I was humbled and appreciative to be part of the series which is a unique local perspective of Cayman,” he says.
Creative talent
Luigi was invited to Montserrat in 2011 to speak to youngsters along with Badir Awe, another upcoming creative talent.
“I talked about the struggles of being a creative entrepreneur from an artistic perspective. It was good to see so many people from the Caribbean dialed into what is going on in Cayman.
“We sometimes forget that we have a responsibility to contribute from a regional perspective; you can utilise creative arts to make a difference in your community and that is the whole foundation of what I am inspired by. One individual can inspire a community, which can inspire the leaders of the country. Again, it goes back to the people; I went all the way to Montserrat and saw that.”
It’s a mix of passion, persistence, positivity and patience that drives Luigi, as it does the many creative acts working in Cayman currently – a great example of that being the Homecoming concert that kicked off Caymanian Thanksgiving in December.
Luigi speaks to a generation that is bringing together people both from Cayman and those who have moved here. There’s a new impetus to the oldest of outlooks: togetherness and hospitality.
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