In 1992, fashion designer, Rachelle Jamerson-Holmes decided to bring a relaxing and exotic boutique to Orangeburg. She purchased the yellow house in the heart of downtown on the corner of Middleton and Fischer Streets and named it Rachelle’s Island. Rachelle’s Island began out of a desire to create a boutique with a unique island atmosphere.

Now that her vision has materialized and expanded into a brick and mortar travel agency, Island Cruises and Tours and a beautiful bed and breakfast, Thee Matriarch, Rachelle continues to raise the bar.

She wants her businesses to play an eminent role in the downtown Orangeburg’s resurgence.

In 2001 she purchased the two houses adjacent to Rachelle’s Island on Fischer St with the expectation of renovating them into additional avenues of revitalizing the downtown area.

“Ambience is very important to me and the old homes have a story to tell,” she said.

She opened Thee Matriarch Bed and Breakfast in September 2007. Her future plans are to renovate the house between Rachelle’s Island and Thee Matriarch.

The inspiration for her business savvy came from her family. Rachelle said “My family taught me through their daily lives and strong work ethics that you can do anything you want if you work hard and work smart.”

She used to accompany her grandmother, Lillie J. Limehouse, on many trips. Mrs. Limehouse, a home economist with the 1890 Extension Service at South Carolina State University, taught Rachelle how to sew and design at an early age of 6, which are vital skills in her designing endeavors. “Learning garment construction, etiquette, table settings, food preparation, traveling and the art of get up and go were everyday activities in our family,” Rachelle says.

Rachelle also listens to many stories from her uncles and aunts about growing up at a time when African Americans had many hurdles to overcome.

“I don’t see bitterness or anger. I see a family that is strong, proud, works well together and is full of faith which enables us to continue to strive for and conquer the best,” she said. Rachelle said that despite the odds, all of her family members still became successful. By witnessing that, she quickly eliminated words such as “no” and “can’t” from her vocabulary. “ Whatever I’m passionate about I strive to give my all,” Rachelle said.

Today, she seeks to encourage others through her motivational speaking. Rachelle is often invited to speak to entrepreneur forums, students, business classes, women’s groups, and conferences.

She approaches everything with a smile and an attitude that negative things can always improve. “There is so much negative in the world. I concentrate on the positive. If I can brighten the day of those around me, my heart is gladdened,” she says.

Rachelle takes pride in giving people an escape from their daily lives, whether it’s at her boutique or by fulfilling a much-needed mini or dream vacation anywhere in the world.

She said giving people “renewed energy and relaxation” is far more rewarding than working a conventional job where efforts are traditionally unappreciated and underpaid.

She continues to work hard and move forward with plans for new and exciting ventures.

Currently, Rachelle’s Island is having a clearance sale to give the boutique a face-lift and create a new online shopping experience.

Every third Tuesday of the month, she hosts a fun community event at Thee Matriarch called “Top Chef Tuesdays”. A plethora of entertainment for both the palate and the mind, Top Chef Tuesdays features chefs, pastry chefs, authors, artists, entertainers, and various vendors that showcase their work. This monthly chef show-down allows the community to sample savory bites of great food, desserts, and beverages prepared by the featured chefs and the community votes at the end of the year for the chef and pastry chef to be crowned “Top Chef Tuesday Chef of The Year”.

Rachelle has also launched “Events for Causes”, an initiative that highlights awareness and raises revenue to assist the needs of individuals and entities in the community. During the holiday season, Events for Causes hosted events to benefit both CASA/Family Systems and The Orangeburg Attention Home for boys and girls.

Her love for travel fueled Rachelle’s decision to open her travel agency, Island Cruises and Tours, Inc. She is a certified international travel agent as well as a certified Sandals specialist with the ultra all-inclusive Sandals and Beaches resorts. Island Cruises and Tours arranges travel for businesses, groups, churches and individuals for every facet of travel.

Thee Matriarch is renovated century-old home previously owned by Ross Ayers. Rachelle, utilizing her first love of fashion and designing, created a gorgeous rental facility and 3 relaxing accommodations in which she uniquely named, designed and themed each room.

Prior to opening her businesses here in Orangeburg, Rachelle lived in New York where she attended the Fashion Institute of Technology and won numerous awards there. In 1990 she was named Hennessy Cognac Designer of the Year and later captured the National Council of Negro Women Service Award. Among many other honors, in 1999 Rachelle was named the National Female Entrepreneur of the Year by the Department of Commerce in Washington D.C. and in the same year won the BB&T Trailblazer Award.

During her time in New York, Rachelle produced a show titled, “The Hottest Show Off Broadway.” “I brought the show home to Orangeburg for three years and after the 1992 show, I opened the store for 90 days so clients could purchase my designs and I’ve been here since….”

An Orangeburg native Rachelle graduated from Orangeburg Wilkinson High School in 1984. From there, she took her education to Winthrop University and obtained a Bachelors degree in fashion design and merchandising in only three years. Back in Orangeburg, Rachelle’s penchant for capturing accolades and honors continues. In August 2007, she was featured in Success from Home magazine and in October 2008 she was featured in Your Business at Home magazine. She is also a past president of the Downtown Orangeburg Revitalization Association. Rachelle married her husband, Fred in Zimbabwe, Africa in 2005.

She says there is just something special about having a vision and watching it come to life. It’s a philosophy that Rachelle happily passes to others with a smile, of course. “I believe the world is yours….Explore it,” she says.

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