Clean contemporary Caribbean comfort

Garfene Grandison, Gleaner Writer

Alternative Comforts is a boutique supplying the market with contemporary, lightweight, soft, household furnishings. Products include a variety of throw cushions, beanbags and ottomans in various shapes and sizes, lounge chairs, giant floor cushions and pet bedding.

CEO for Alternative Comforts, Phillippa Thompson, told Outlook that she started the venture because of her love for home décor and her inability to find what she wanted in Jamaica.

Thompson said she had difficulty sourcing trendy, contemporary-styled, soft furnishings for a number of personal projects she was working on. She definitely did not want to import "inferior imports that were all similarly styled", she said, adding that each product is done with the idea to add a unique modern statement to home spaces. Complementing traditional with contemporary décor while meeting the functional demands of today's hectic living is basically what Thompson has done.

"Each style piece is manufactured to the exact specified standards by our skilled craftworkers," she boasted

The petite businesswoman introduced her Alternative Comforts line last December and almost a year in business, she said patronage is fantastic.

"My clients are very happy with the bespoke, soft furnishings and interior design services that we offer. They keep coming back for more pieces," she said, happy to have heeded the advice of her friends who encouraged her to start her own business.

"Creating home accent and comfort pieces comes naturally to me. I was never formally taught," said the Kingstonian, who left the corporate world to indulge in her love of decorating spaces.

With a clientele of mostly young professionals who want the "Caribbean contemporary" look, Thompson said that her greatest challenge is sourcing the raw materials. "The materials are here, but they are very expensive. Added to this is the fact that we are limited to just one or two suppliers." She went on: "When problems usually arise, the only solution is to either go back to the client and try to suggest ways to work around it, or just wait for a better market."

Stocking up on items that are usually in demand is also another solution, but one that can also be tricky, since you can be left with the inventory when the peak season is gone.

Thompson has high hopes in the future to launch out as a full-time home décor and professional service expert. But right now, the focus is on manufacturing local products made from different cottons, suede, Styrofoam beads to ensure that they are lightweight and convenient.

Her adjunct services include reupholstering bar chairs and sofa sets. For loyal patrons who love their school and want to show patriotism, they can get beanbags in the suitable colours, stitching, among other items. She also has Jamaica 50 items available in the national colours.

To get these pieces or more information, you can visit the website www.alternativecomforts.com, or www.facebook.com/alternativecomforts.

garfene.grandison@gleanerjm.com

Photos by Gladstone Taylor