Today’s post features Mr. Kavir Mootoo, a Trinbagonian painter and designer.
Kavir grew up loving art and design, a passion which he believes developed because of his mother – who was very stylish - and his older sister, now an artist and author, who first introduced him to ways in which he could express himself artistically.
This passion led him to pursue art during secondary school, along with various science subjects as he believed that pursuing medicine was expected of him. Then, after trying dental school for one year, he dropped out and started a program in Landscape Architecture – which was design-oriented.
After he returned to Trinidad, he worked in Landscape Architecture, until 5 years ago when he decided to fully devote his time and effort to fashion and fine art.
The Beginning - Experimenting with Sustainable Fashion
His journey truly began when he wanted to get new clothing, but was not able to afford the pieces he liked; prompting him to work on his current clothing and create looks through trial and error.
After receiving positive responses to his upcycled work, he started creating original pieces for himself using t-shirts and shirts he purchased locally.
Then, as persons became more interested in his work, he made the decision to start producing items for sale, and, being keenly concerned about the environment, made the decision to only use sweatshop-free t-shirts and tank tops, made of either organic cotton, hemp or bamboo. This ensures that his work does not have a huge impact on the environment and is made by workers who are paid and treated fairly.
Currently, these items are ordered from the US and soon, Kavir plans on offsetting the carbon emissions associated with their shipment through a site called The Gold Standard.
He also wishes to increase his creation of upcycled pieces for others, using their gently-used clothing and would love if persons even donated clothing to him to modify and resell so he wouldn’t have to buy virgin materials. This would be the best-case scenario for him as he aims to have the clothing he produces align with his values in terms of environmental sustainability.
Expanding: Jewellery Production
In early 2019, Kavir expanded into jewellery pieces, making multi-purpose brooches and pendants. The idea behind this was that you could use these items not only on your body but also to adorn your desk and dressing or bedside table – thus giving you a multi-purpose item and reducing the amount of resources we take from the earth.
Fun Fact: The item above was made from the cover of a paint container.
To make these pieces, he either purchases materials locally at 'Art and More' in St. Augustine or works with items he already has, reducing the need for expensive materials whose mining and manufacture have high environmental costs and whose costs make them inaccessible to many; “who needs gold when you can have a hand-made dental-floss plastic packing pendant?”
He also paints on canvas, saying that he loves the freedom of it and enjoys the fact that canvas allows for him to engage in more rigorous painting – a process which he describes as cathartic.
When asked about what inspires his work, some of his responses included; “a leaf; a feeling; Billy Porter's style and energy; anger (at environmental degradation, inequality, hate, and injustice); the sea; landscapes; nature; flowers; other Abstract Expressionist artists; Architecture; freedom; hip-hop; and friends and family who follow their heart”.
Kavir shares that while it is at times challenging to create and make a living off of art, there are many rewarding aspects. He says; “Being able to make something when there was nothing is a beautiful act - I think it's highly spiritual as something comes up from deep inside that leads to something being made… I keep at it because it is such a rich experience…”.
Kavir also thinks that more and more persons are beginning to appreciate sustainable fashion and artwork, a key benefit in his eyes. However, he warns that as inhabitants of islands that are susceptible to climate change, rising sea levels, and coastal erosion – we should appreciate these ideas much more.
As such, Kavir looks forward to continuing to engage in his various passions; landscape architecture, film, painting, fashion and perhaps writing. He is especially interested in having more art in public spaces as they create visual interest, which he believes is very important; “I do not like the exclusivity of art by its being in private homes and galleries. It is why I like doing work on clothing - it's a form of public art.”
He also looks forward to teaching others how they can upcycle their own new clothes as he wants to encourage persons to buy less. He says “The fact that we have 10 years left to meet our cut-off mark for global carbon emissions before our climate is irreversibly changed, means BUSINESS IS NOT AS USUAL…The time for vanity and over-consumption is gone. I care too much about the earth and people, culture and life to ignore the work that I see is needed in terms of spreading awareness about environmental sustainability. There are many aspects that we need to change but fashion is what I love so I will work on this issue”.
To ensure that he keeps making an impact, Kavir keeps his prices at a level he thinks is reachable and offers payment plans on his paintings.
Persons who would like to contact him can call/WhatsApp 868-366-9094 to schedule a visit to his studio in San Fernando. He also has his paintings available at 'The Kuttage' in Radisson Hotel, Port of Spain and ‘Think Art Work TT’ on the Cipriani Boulevard.
He also shares his work, thoughts, inspirations on Art, Fashion, Design and the Environment on Facebook at and on Instagram at @a_gardeners_heart.
Did you enjoy today's feature? Does Kavir's story inspire you to work towards making your wardrobe more sustainable? Let us know by commenting below!
- Jamala A.