Cutting-edge fashion on the ‘Horizon’ for Troy Oraine Williamson’s Tribe Nine Studios
Published:Friday | March 3, 2023 | 12:23 AMKrysta Anderson/Staff Reporter
The ocean kissed the sunset, creating new fashion on the ‘Horizon’ for local designer Troy Oraine Williamson. His latest collection, launched just last week, became a Mecca for style lovers who welcomed his scenic reflections with open hearts. Living spoke with the owner of Tribe Nine Studios after the runway showcase to talk about his journey and show-stopping revolution.
“New dawn. New beginning. It feels good,” Williamson said enthusiastically, following the recently staged fashion show. Horizon, he revealed, is his first-ever full collection and it was inspired by quality time spent at Bob Marley Beach.
The Bull Bay location has provided great solace for the artist who longs to escape the hustle and bustle of the city in order to think in the clean crisp air. From there, oceanic patterns took form, so too did the soft radiance of the sunset, orange in colour. “The collection is basically about the duality of the roughness present in the waves and the softness of the sunset,” he explained further.
No stranger to fashion, he recounts being surrounded by a wide array of fabrics as a child. His mother was a seamstress and he always appreciated her artistic eye and her passion for sleek cuts and pristine constructs.
Revelling in the midst of style didn’t sway Williamson into the direction of rocking any runway. At the age of 12, the young lad, who hails from Denham Town in Kingston, left the island to live in London. He later found a home in the performing arts.
His official homecoming didn’t come into play until 20 years later.
Circa 2016, an adult Williamson experienced a culture shock like no other upon his return. And he found himself bridging the lifestyle gap by going back and forth between these green shores and The Big Apple, formally known as New York City.
The stylist did, however, see the silver lining, confessing that the change in landscape not only forced him to mature as a man, but awakened all of his artistic senses. Being in Jamaica, he was able to develop a new appreciation for the relaxed vibe and nature around him. And there was great pleasure in being among and feeding off the vibe of his countrymen.
Joining forces with one of the biggest names in fashion and style, the late Dexter Pottinger, Williamson was able to channel his energies into establishing his own personal brand.
Taken aback by Pottinger’s untimely death, Williamson forged on in honour of the vision, establishing a personal brand in the process.
Tribe Nine Studios, which opened its doors in 2017, “pays homage not just to the individual, but to the collective, a tribe. Nine is a lucky number which speaks to cycle and good vibrations. And the studios spoke to my dream of opening several studios all across the island, not just in Kingston.”
Motivated by cultural integration, his work lends itself to the inspirations of his present residence, as well as his future travel plans – a trip around the world to Africa, India and other parts of Asia, before returning to Jamaica.
There is no question of quality and his unique threads are Afro-futuristic, individualistic, rebellious, royal, timeless and one-of-a-kind by nature. “Horizon is about pushing boundaries. But I also wanted to bring across the unisex essence with the females to give them and solidify that strength, through the use of asymmetrical cuts and combat pockets on the side,” he said, adding, “I feel like a lot of women aren’t represented right in Jamaica and I feel like that strength is usually seen as wearing something tight, for instance, or being restricted. The kind of freedom of expression evident in this collection is what sexy is to me.”
For the main show, Williamson used creatives in the industry, instead of subscribing to the model aesthetic. “On the runway, we had make-up artists, dancers and recording artistes. I vibe with good energy so that played a major role in my selection process. Most of them I have worked with in the industry at one time or another. I know I wanted to work with visual artist Joshua Solas of Solasink for the fashion show; he did some artwork and hand painted positive messages on the night. And I also wanted D’Yani to close the show. Everyone did an excellent job,” he added.
It is his aim to divert the nation’s style from producing “shirt, jeans and Clarks” fashion, rebelling against that construct and making a change that presents designs from his vivid imagination; pushing the envelope of patterns and cuts, while blurring the line between the ideals of gender, culture and class.
“My hope for Tribe Nine Studios is much bigger than me. My hope is to have Jamaica and the Caribbean be represented in the fashion industry on a global scale. I want the brand to be edgy enough and have that quality to compete internationally. As Jamaicans, we’re always looking everywhere else for quality fashion. And if Tribe Nine can showcase that quality, standing against or with other brands, then that’s a dream come true; to have Tribe Nine as a representation of our island,” Williamson revealed.