Janelle De Souza
At 30, Miguel de la Rosa, identified within the native leisure trade as SpaceBoi The Stylist, already has three companies below his belt.
He’s a celeb wardrobe stylist, has a digital advertising and marketing firm below his SpaceBoi model, is the artistic director and designer of DLR Clothes Co, and lately grew to become the founding father of Gaea Vitality, a vegan, natural wellness firm.
Taught to stitch by his mom from an early age, de la Rosa naturally developed an curiosity in trend.
He graduated from the College of the West Indies (UWI) in 2013 with a BSc in administration research and double minors in finance and advertising and marketing earlier than incomes an MBA in logistics and provide chain administration from the Australian Institute of Enterprise in 2018.
Whereas at UWI, he “launched into a brand new path of self-expression” via his look, carrying principally his authentic or customised items. He not solely found the “liberating spirit of trend” however realised others tried to duplicate his type.
Due to this fact, in February 2014, he adopted his ardour and launched his trend line, DLR Clothes Co.
“DLR Clothes Co is a streetwear model that specialises in ready-to-wear clothes. The model’s watchwords are daring, city and distinctive.
“Because the artistic director of DLR, my goal is to encourage native road put on fans to be free with their type selections and to be extra adventurous with regards to trend.”
Since then, de la Rosa has launched six collections and designed customized items for superstar shoppers.
As SpaceBoi The Stylist, he affords wardrobe styling, picture session, customized costume/wardrobe conceptualisation/manufacturing and private buying companies.
He has labored with public figures and celebrities together with Training Minister Dr Nyan Gadsby-Dolly, Ro’dey The Entertainer, soca artistes Machel Montano, Nailah Blackman, Erphaan Alves, Nessa Preppy, Patrice Roberts, and Olatunji, Jamaican dancehall artiste Popcaan, American trend mannequin Irvin Randle, and extra.
“I all the time knew that I used to be a pure artistic however I simply didn’t know which discipline I’d have ventured into. After I stumbled upon trend I discovered my getaway. I knew that is what I used to be meant to do. I can overlook about all that’s taking place round me and log right into a world that’s actually appears like house. I additionally assume I get to expertise the most effective of each worlds as I’m able to create customized items for my shoppers and likewise type it to perfection. The top outcome? Pure Magic!”
In his interplay with shoppers he inspired them to drink extra water and eat more healthy so he doubted any of them can be stunned to study he was concerned in one thing to do with wellness.
“In 2020, when every little thing was at a standstill, the leisure trade was not lively. That is after I needed to go internally and discover my subsequent ardour, the place I might channel my creativity and power, and what I might do to maintain me lively and make an earnings. That is the place the concept of Gaea Vitality stemmed from.”
In response to de la Rosa, at a sure level in life, he felt the necessity to pay extra consideration to his well being and what he was placing into his physique.
“In 2016 or 2017, I bought a message in my head that I wanted to cease consuming meat and ingesting alcohol. And I simply stated, ‘I can’t ignore this voice so I’m going to do it. I must attempt one thing totally different and see the way it goes.’ Issues actually took a constructive flip after I listened and I haven’t regarded again since.”
For a number of years he moved between veganism and vegetarianism however he’s now a pescatarian.
Then, a couple of yr in the past he stared to analysis superfoods and repeatedly got here throughout sea moss. He learn that it had a lot of the essential nutritional vitamins and minerals the physique wants. Additionally listed as advantages had been that it rids the physique of mucus, will increase power, boosts immunity, aids digestion, promotes weight reduction, promotes wholesome pores and skin and hair progress, enhance libido, and lowers blood stress.
So, he began utilizing it to see what would occur. He quickly felt and noticed a distinction in his physique, which stunned him.
“It actually made a distinction in my life and the way I used to be functioning at the moment. It actually spoke to me. I believed, ‘This could possibly be a sport changer, this might make a distinction in so many individuals’s lives. Why not attempt my finest to create one thing that’s sea moss primarily based?’”
He started to make use of sea moss religiously, and began making the gel for himself however discovered the flavour to be missing.
Round January he got here up with the concept of infusing it with pure fruits. He went to his mom, Phylis Ann de la Rosa, who was a chef at her personal restaurant for 12 years earlier than retiring, and she or he delivered.
“My mother is de facto the mastermind behind the recipes. I provide you with loopy concepts and she or he is the one who brings it house and makes it occur.
“We took the time to do the correct analysis to know the shelf life, what works and what doesn’t, as a result of not every little thing could possibly be infused and stay of a selected high quality. We took the time to search out the proper fusion.”
And so, Gaea Vitality was launched in April 2021. In the intervening time, its sole product is fruit-infused sea moss gel.
De la Rosa famous that Caribbean individuals have been utilizing sea moss for many years, and it may be discovered in the marketplace as dried sea moss and plain sea moss gel.
“Rising up we’d have used sea moss in punches, combined it in numerous dairy merchandise, or sweetened it with condensed milk. I realised we’ve been contradicting the most effective advantages of sea moss for years by mixing it with dairy as a result of sea moss is one thing that rids the physique of mucus and dairy is a main supply of mucus.”
As such, all Gaea merchandise are dairy-free. Nonetheless, they’re made with wild-crafted sea moss and actual fruits, are 100 per cent pure, 100 per cent natural, 100 per cent vegan, sugar free, bisphenol A free, gluten free, with no genetically modified organisms, preservatives, synthetic flavouring or synthetic colouring.
Flavours embrace pineapple; coconut; ginger and turmeric; soursop; guava; hibiscus, ginger and citrus; in addition to three new flavours of ardour fruit; mango and chia seeds; and pina colada.
He added that the mango, guava, and soursop flavours are seasonal however the staff, consisting of his two sisters, and mom as head of manufacturing, shares among the fruits to increase manufacturing.
Gaea Vitality’s sea moss gel could be very versatile and may be eaten as is, combined in teas, smoothies, salad dressings, juices, eaten with oats, used to thicken and flavour sauces, and a few flavours can be utilized as an alternative choice to jam.
“With covid19, persons are nonetheless in search of pure methods to spice up their immunity. And everyone seems to be on the go and so they could not have time to course of sea moss in a means that will be scrumptious. We wished to attraction to individuals who wish to go on that pure well being journey and made it straightforward and handy for them to take action.”
The ocean moss gels may be ordered for supply on Instagram at gaeaenergytt, and Fb at Gaea Vitality TT.
“We shall be launching supply to Tobago within the coming week and we’ll be part of the 868 Pop Up Store, Halloween version, at Trincity Mall on October 30 alongside native manufacturers comparable to Bananarama and John’s Geera.
“We’re additionally engaged on entering into numerous shops quickly so customers can stay up for that, which shall be introduced within the coming weeks.”
Gaea Vitality may also be introducing three new flavours by the tip of the yr, and its staff is engaged on different sea moss-based objects together with popsicles, juices and cocktails, and gummy bear snacks which shall be gelatin free.
De la Rosa plans to ultimately transfer away from sea moss-based merchandise and develop merchandise primarily based on among the superfoods and pure cures which can be well-known within the Caribbean.
“I see Gaea Vitality being a family title as a vegan, natural wellness model. One factor I pleasure myself and the staff on is that we produce high-quality, all-natural merchandise.
“We actually imagine nature has supplied every little thing we have to unlock our final potential. That’s the driving power behind the model. The primary goal is to enhance general heath and wellbeing.”
