Fri | Mar 29, 2024

Dermoth Williams prepared to take design to the next level

Published:Friday | November 11, 2022 | 5:58 AMAaliyah Cunningham/Gleaner Writer
Uzuri International’s Karl Williams (left) and Mark McDermoth.
Uzuri International’s Karl Williams (left) and Mark McDermoth.
Lesa Millan chose this black Dermoth WIlliams Couture  gown for one of her appearances at BravoCon.
Lesa Millan chose this black Dermoth WIlliams Couture gown for one of her appearances at BravoCon.
Calvin took the 2022 Miss Universe Jamaica title in this yellow Dermoth Williams gown.
Calvin took the 2022 Miss Universe Jamaica title in this yellow Dermoth Williams gown.
Miss Universe Jamaica 2022 Toshami Calvin shone bright in an Uzuri International gown at a National Honours and Awards reception held in October.
Miss Universe Jamaica 2022 Toshami Calvin shone bright in an Uzuri International gown at a National Honours and Awards reception held in October.
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Uzuri International is a Jamaican brand synonymous with glamour, style and fashion since 1998. The umbrella name, which is also the franchise owner of Miss Universe Jamaica, hosts several other existing companies, including the high fashion brand Dermoth Williams Couture. But now, owners Mark McDermoth and Karl Williams aim to kick things up a notch as they extend their design expertise to other areas, including product design and home ware.

Speaking with Living, McDermoth, who is half of the dynamic duo, said it is time to bring Dermoth Williams Couture to the forefront and take it to the next level.

“I worked with the Jamaica Tourist Board for 24 years, and I retired in 2018. My retirement was really to come back and get Dermoth Williams to where we want it to be. Then the pandemic came, and now that it is going, we are moving forward. Now, I am fully immersed in this venture. I am fully immersed in Dermoth Williams. Anything else I do will be on the side. I was fully immersed in my engagement with the Jamaica Tourist Board and Jamaica-Jamaica, and I had to divide my time between those organisations, so now I am doing it for my own, and that itself is very exciting,” he revealed.

McDermoth and Williams have dressed countless Miss Universe Jamaica contestants and winners, and celebrities, including Vivica A. Fox, Chaka Khan, Terri-Karelle Reid and recently, Mina Roe fashion designer and reality TV Star Lesa Milan for her BravoCon appearance.

“We were emailed by Lesa’s team to say that she was making the appearance at BravoCon, and she wanted to wear a Jamaican designer and would we be interested, so of course, we said absolutely. But she had her eyes set specifically on this gown that we have in stock. [We also] sent her a few other designs that we thought were wow, and we told her that we had the time so we could do other colours and styles; we are here. She was set on that one, so we said oh, okay, alright. We made a few adjustments cause, as I said, we had it in stock, and it worked. We are very excited about that because she is so iconic and amazing, and she is carrying the Jamaican flag, so for us, it was the perfect alignment,” McDermoth shared about how the collaboration came about.

But as they continue to make significant moves in the fashion world, they have begun taking on new prospects and opportunities to expand the design label.

“We are sort of bringing out more of the design elements of ourselves, and we are looking at so many other things too. But the big news is we are going to be putting our name on a range of design products from food to home ware, to fashion and resort wear, swimwear and all that. That is what is exciting,” McDermoth said.

“We are also going into our exclusive showroom that we are fine-tuning right now. The couture is not for everyone, and we have no apologies about that. Therefore, if you want to be a part of the Dermoth Williams world, by appointment only, you will be able to come to our studio and select, [while] being [feted] with wine and hors d’oeuvres and that sort of thing,” he continued.

Dermoth Williams is also set to bring back the Prom Shoppe that allows younger folks to go all out for the special occasion. Currently, they are working on ensuring that Miss Universe Jamaica Toshami Calvin will have high-fashion, gorgeous looks for the global competition set for January.

Having been in the business for over two decades, McDermoth is always thrilled by the design process and takes great pride in the work presented by him and Williams.

“It is a great overall feeling when you know that you have created something that comes from your mind. Karl Williams is my partner in this, and our process is really a great collaborative effort. For example, if Karl has a design in his head, we tweak it and until we say this is good for the market, and it is the same with me. But at the end of the day, when you know that a creation comes from you, and it is coming from your mind and soul, and people find it interesting and will spend money for it, it is amazing. It is a great feeling. Just the design concept alone, cause sometimes you have a design in your head but by the time you are executing the design, it can go other ways, and other designs can come about. So, in that whole situation where you are creatively nuancing, and twisting and turning and options come out, it is fantastic,” he said.

According to him, with all that is in store, this is the most exciting time of their career.

aaliyah.cunningham@gleanerjm.com