Shelly-Ann Cooper has always known who she is. Grounded in her identity and unfazed by negative remarks about her origins, she proudly celebrates the place where she was born, raised, and still lives—a small community on Trinidad’s western coast.
What truly defined her, however, was a natural talent. From childhood, her family and friends cheered her on, insisting she had a gift and should never stop. That gift was the ability to create garments—a skill passed down through generations. Her grandmother and mother sewed, her aunt still does, and today, Cooper carries that legacy forward.
“From very young I realised school work seemed to be going faster than I was processing it,” she admitted. “But I was drawn to creativity.”
Her creative journey began with scraps of fabric from her mother’s sewing basket, which she turned into doll clothes. By 15, she found her first “live mannequin” in her younger sister.
“I didn’t do well at exams, but making clothes came naturally. I couldn’t wait for my little sister to get home from school so I could fit her in the outfits I made,” Cooper recalled with a smile.
Her mother, impressed, encouraged her to pursue formal training.
In 1998, Cooper enrolled at Servol, excelling in sewing classes and later advancing through the Adolescent Development Programme, Dressmaking and Design, and Garment Construction. She eventually trained under expert seamstress Charmaine Charles at the Cruise Ship Complex, even making female police uniforms.
“Charmaine took me under her wing and connected me with the Trinidad and Tobago Coast Guard, where I became the only female tailor,” Cooper said. “The female officers were happy to finally have a woman who could measure, fit, and refit them.”
She still serves with the Coast Guard today, but her ambitions stretched further. In 2008, she and Charles were among the first cohort at the University of T&T’s (UTT) Caribbean Academy of Fashion Design, both graduating with Bachelor of Fine Arts degrees.
When Charles became a lecturer at UTT, she entrusted Cooper with her office space at the Cruise Ship Complex. It became the home of Soigné Fashion Studio, Cooper’s luxury design house.
“In the heart of the Cruise Ship Complex lies a hidden creative gem of luxury and style,” she said with pride. “Soigné is my way of standing out as a Black Afro-Trinbagonian woman in a competitive global fashion world.”
Soigné offers far more than custom gowns and resort wear. From expert alterations and fabric consulting to bespoke couture pieces, Cooper emphasises precision, craftsmanship, and impeccable design. Her philosophy: every piece must embody elegance, detail, and pride in T&T’s creative identity.
Her clientele agrees. Many describe her as a “hidden gem,” praising her fabric knowledge, attention to detail, and commitment to tailoring each garment to the client’s vision.
“Both men and women come to me—for corporate attire, high-end couture, or simply a perfect fit. I believe I transcend boundaries because I design with passion and precision,” she explained.
For Cooper, excellence isn’t only about business; it’s about representation. She sees herself as a role model, especially for girls in marginalised communities. Confident that local labels can stand alongside international fashion houses, she champions T&T’s unique eccentric flair while mentoring the next generation. Recently, she hosted an Introduction to Sewing Camp for girls, fulfilling a lifelong dream of teaching and passing on her skills.
Outside fashion, Cooper wears many hats: a loyal wife, devoted mother, Coast Guard rating, and professional dancer with the Moed School of Dance.
Through it all, she remains committed to one vision: elevating Caribbean fashion, empowering her community, and ensuring that Soigné Fashion Studio shines as a true gem of T&T.
