Confident in clothing: Style enthusiast Margo Makes fashion her motivation
Published:Friday | September 29, 2023 | 12:05 AMKrysta Anderson/Staff Reporter
In 2020, Camargo Kerr made her debut in the world of style, aiming to blend her distinctive walk with the realm of exceptional fashion. Since then, this passionate style enthusiast has established herself as a celebrated thrifter and upcycler, embarking upon a vibrant and sustainable fashion journey.
“Fashion is a source of self-expression. I’m big on that because over the years, I was troubled with anxiety. Dressing up helped to boost my confidence. And I am all about helping others to feel better about themselves through clothes,” Kerr told Living.
People began to take notice when the Jamaican purchased a MTV T-shirt from Walmart and embarked upon an upcycling project to create an uber chic two-piece skirt set. “I think people like relatability. I got it from Walmart. It looked simple, people thought that they could do it and I love that, because they can,” Kerr said.
While on her journey, she received an unexpected blessing in the form of a sewing machine from a customer while she was working at a retail store. “The customer is Jamaican and she always asked me for help. She mentioned something about sewing and I told her that I had been meaning to buy a machine, but I had not gotten around to it. She said that she was going to bless me with one. This always brings me to tears; within a week or two, the machine was delivered to my door.”
The following year the COVID-19 pandemic hit, during which the grateful novice took the time to refine her stitching skills.
When she was younger, Kerr recalled going through style motions, not knowing that she would one day grow up to be a fashionista. Raised by her stepmother, a seamstress, she would receive scrap materials to make dresses for her dolls, providing them with the ultimate closet items.
But a significant garment and event stood out at her most defining fashion moment. “When I was about four years old, I had a denim shorts overalls with a plastic starfish in the front and little stars which floated and moved around in the middle if you pressed it. Oh my God, I loved it,” she revealed, adding, “my family had gone through some financial troubles at the time. My dad got sued and they came to our house to take all of our furniture and I remember just walking around with that over my shoulder, thinking ‘you can take everything else, but you are not touching this’.”
Later on, Kerr enrolled at Edna Manley College for the Visual and Performing Arts. Although she pursued her bachelor’s degree in dance and choreography, she also had the opportunity to delve into the world of fashion during her time at the institution.
Today, she goes by the moniker Margo Makes and has a real knack for transforming the drabbest of outfits into pure fabulousness. A lover of vintage fashion, she draws inspiration from both past eras and contemporary trends.
Her goal is to create a piece that is both unique and timeless by nature, “When I go thrifting I see the beauty in just about anything; this could become something new and fresh. Upcycling is similar in that it gives something old a new life for sustainability purposes. So I am always excited to do that as well.”
Describing her personal style as edgy, unique, bold, sexy and exciting, Kerr looks up to style icons like, Neko ‘Bootleg Rocstar’ Kelly, Jeneé Naylor and Rihanna.
Her creative process is entirely freestyle, and inspiration often strikes when she least expects it, even in the midst of mundane moments like taking a shower. She is also motivated by random fabrics, movements and special occasions.
“Some of my popular looks include my umbrella dress, which was a big hit; a basketball corset, and the train dress for my birthday. For me, I also enjoyed a detachable corset that I did. And I am absolutely in love with the Zara paper bag dress that I made,” Kerr proudly shared.
She had this to say about finding your style, “We, as a society, follow a lot of trends and I find that people are scared to try new things when it comes to fashion. I am big on body positivity. And I encourage others to celebrate their fashion sense and be confident in whatever they choose to wear. People say that I have a nice body and everything can fit me. No, I know what I like and I seek styles that fit my body type, And you can do that as well.”