Guyanese twin sisters bridge cultural gap through fashion, art and design

Ashvini (Ash) Persaud and her identical twin sister grew up in both the East Coast (Demerara-Mahaica region) and the capital, Georgetown, in Guyana. It may come as a surprise to know that they were born in a leap year. 

Ash shared how growing up in both places gave her and her sister experiences of country and town life. 

“We picked up cowdown in the countryside, and we participated in Drama-Mash competitions pretending to be farmers with Sir Henry Rodney’s training in Georgetown. He helped us find a historic voice, poetry. Miss King helped us find art which we continue in the USA,” Persaud said. 

She added that one of their head teachers, Kahlil Gibran, taught them the power of words and love. Having validation from English teachers here helped them to find creative writing and their love for literature.  The sisters now live in different areas of NYC.

Persaud stated that she was transitioning to a new chapter in her life when she decided to start the Green Fashion, Art, and Design Museum (Green FAD Museum) with her sister. 

The collections and projects at the museum are unique and designed to reflect sustainable and multicultural ideas, and its custom projects are supported by private funding, donations and available grants.  

“I was interested in preserving human life and cultural aspects including vintage pieces from various families. I felt God opened a doorway with creative arts to illustrate and heal,” she added. 

In addition, Persaud shared that the short-term goal for the museum is to “grow our active volunteer supporters and resources.” 

The long-term goal is: “to reach more people and organizations for fundraising, visibility and longevity, remain sustainable and successful via amplified social media and improvement of website and resources,” she continued. 

The biggest success story with the organization thus far, according to Persaud, is having 29,000 followers across social media. Another success: receiving an honorary citation last year, which she accredits to philanthropic recognition, and pursuit of a soulful calling. 

What the sisters see as a challenge to get ahead of is the effects of recessions on the market. “We have to find recession-proof industries and sustainable grants for nonprofits,” Persaud said. 

The sisters want the museum and its work to reach more people, teaching them about sustainable and multicultural life, to help increase awareness of issues involving race and anti-bullying, as well as promoting unity in the world.

Persaud wants people to know: “Aspiring for sustainable life and oneness are worthy causes. Health and wellness and preventative care is important, including mental health. Finding one’s own calling is important and will help us as people to not envy others.” 

Furthermore, regarding their legacy the sisters want to “leave a strong value of creative arts in healing and influencing individuals and society.” They also want to raise the bar on the value of education and time, as well on kindness, compassion, and doing the right thing.

They want the younger generation, both here in NYC and in Guyana, to not leave their roots behind, be curious, build family trees, and  preserve important historic aspects of a culture artistically via arts, design, literature and innovative means. 

The key thing for them to remember, according to Persaud: “We have a nice multicultural tree that spans from South America, India, China and other continents. We are one people.”