Loud by Afiya From Boutique Beginnings to Caribbean Airlines Partnership

From being a self-starting teen with a fashion buyer’s mindset to launching collections now sold in Caribbean Airlines’ duty-free stores, Afiya’s story is one of self-made style and island ingenuity. The Trinidad & Tobago born and bred designer behind the Caribbean fashion brand Loud by Afiya, her fashion journey is as vibrant and bold as her designs—marked by hustle, heart, and a love for personal style.

From Teen Stylist to Boutique Owner

Afiya’s love for fashion didn’t start in the usual way. In fact, she admits that she “wasn’t even thinking about fashion” after high school. It wasn’t until she was cast as a model for a university promotion and began spending time on the floor of the University of Trinidad and Tobago’s fashion program that the seed was planted. “It was the first time I saw fashion as a business,” she recalls. “We all wear clothes, but I never thought of fashion as something you could make a living from.”

Her entrepreneurial streak, however, was already in motion. As a teenager, she used her mom’s credit card to shop online (mostly Forever 21), reselling items to peers, teachers, coworkers, and anyone who complimented her outfits. She even created a catalog using Excel to organize her “inventory”—a clear sign she was already channeling her inner fashion buyer and stylist, even if she didn’t realize it yet.

This natural gift for curating and selling led her to open her first boutique in a local plaza while still attending fashion school. Between attending classes and manning her store (often with her mom stepping in as backup), Afiya began to understand retail firsthand. But when customers began expressing frustration with seeing the same styles everywhere, she realized it was time to start designing her own pieces.

Designing Her Own Lane

Her first collection? Pants—naturally.

“I’m obsessed with pants,” Afiya laughs. “My first collection was only pants and shorts. I wanted them to be different, so I started sketching and combining inspiration from Pinterest.” It was a modest start, but one that sold out quickly and shifted her boutique from curated pieces to exclusive Loud by Afiya designs.

Even though life took a temporary detour—Afiya became a mother and later took on a marketing manager role—fashion found its way back. After being laid off, she took her severance package and invested it all into a new collection. It paid off. That collection’s success led to a second boutique, this time selling only her own designs. Loud by Afiya officially had a home.

Fashion Forward with Caribbean Airlines

LOUD by Afiya Collection in Partnership with Caribbean Airlines

One of Afiya’s proudest moments came recently when she landed a dream collaboration with Caribbean Airlines. Through her involvement in the FashionTT program, which supports the growth of fashion entrepreneurs in Trinidad & Tobago, Afiya was handpicked for an opportunity to design for the airline’s duty-free retail program.

“I got a call out of the blue saying, ‘Caribbean Airlines wants to feature regional designers in their stores—and I recommended you,’” she recalls. “At first, I didn’t have a collection ready. But I said yes and figured it out.”

The timeline was tight—just a week to produce for a fashion show and retail launch—but with the help of three local seamstresses, sheer determination, and her go-getter mindset, Afiya pulled it off. Today, her pieces are not only available in Caribbean Airlines’ airport duty-free store but also on their international e-commerce site, giving global travelers a chance to shop island-made fashion infused with soul and style.

Lessons in Style and Business

While Afiya’s designs are bold, colorful, and made to move with Caribbean life, her business approach is thoughtful and constantly evolving. She’s shifted from brick-and-mortar retail to a digital-first model, investing in her website and exploring pop-ups and boutique partnerships instead of maintaining a permanent storefront.

“COVID showed me that people are more comfortable shopping online now,” she shares. “So I decided to reinvest in my site and ship worldwide. It’s more efficient and allows me to put more money into production instead of overhead.”

But even with a stronger business model, Afiya is honest about the emotional toll that comes with entrepreneurship. “It’s a balance. Sometimes I doubt myself. But then I think—my younger self didn’t know what she was doing and still went for it. I try to keep that same energy.”

Style Icons and Caribbean Culture

Afiya’s love for fashion is also deeply connected to Caribbean culture, especially music. Whether it’s styling pieces for Carnival or creating pants that dance with the rhythm of the road, her designs are meant to move. “Music and fashion go hand in hand here,” she says. “The way we dress, how we move, how we party; it’s all part of who we are.”

If she could style anyone? Rihanna tops the list. “She’s such a style icon. I wouldn’t even try to style her. I’d just love to see how she’d rock one of my pieces.” Other dream clients include Michelle Obama and Oprah, women Afiya admires for their strength and impact.

What’s Next for LOUD by Afiya?

Looking ahead, Afiya wants to take Loud by Afiya to even more global markets. She’s currently focused on expanding through boutique partnerships and international shipping, and she’s already seeing increased interest from outside Trinidad.

She also hopes her story inspires other young Caribbean creatives to take risks, stay authentic, and build their own businesses—on their own terms.

“Sometimes you just need to say yes and figure it out after. That’s how I’ve done a lot of this.”

---

Ready to rock your own Loud by Afiya look? Shop her latest designs at loudbyafiya.com — made in Trinidad and Tobago, shipped with love worldwide and available via the Caribbean Airlines’ airport duty-free store. Follow her journey and stylish updates on Instagram @loudbyafiya

Listen to our full conversation below:

---