Local designers ripped the runway at Style Week 2015
Published:Tuesday | May 26, 2015 | 12:00 AM
Model agency Saint International kick started their 11th staging of it's annual Style Week with White Night, White Style on Friday, May 22. This year, Saint took things to the Top of the World, transforming The Jamaica Pegasus, into a luxurious venue, as local designers showed off their 2016 Spring/Summer collections.
Guests sat on both sides on the runway eagerly awaiting the featured fashion lines, as Saint's CEO Deiwght Peters began the formalities with the cadets from the Caribbean Maritime Institute - dressed in their white uniforms escorting the 'it girls' of the moment - Kai Newman and Tami Williams.
In the first segment, the runway dazzled with the collections from T&T with their fashionable wedding dresses, Nina with red and black crochet designs, and Heather Laine with her line of long semi-formal dresses.
Intermission gave guests a well-needed reprieve from the glitz and glam of the runway to refresh themselves before the final lines for the night.
Leading the second segment was Tanya with her Shades of Africa designs, followed by André Shirley's pieces for men and women of style.
Pebbles King presented her version of a fashionable wedding dress line with a Spring of Fashion theme, closing with a variety of green and black blend of audaciously tight-fitting evening wear.
International Mecca of Style
"Fashion is art. Art is fashion," exclaimed Peters as he commenced the late-starting second night, International Mecca of Style, on Saturday, May 24. The exceptional works of art at The National Gallery of Jamaica in downtown Kingston, provided the perfect backdrop for the collections of the Caribbean?s trend-setting designers, worn by the world?s top models.
Starting the showcase was the exciting and titillating collection from Courtney Washington. The pieces for women consisted of mainly maxi dresses - in colours inspired by the sea - that transformed the models into Greek goddesses featuring easy, breezy fabrics, plunging necklines and risqué slits.
Celebrating 30 years in the industry and one of the stunning Style Week ambassadors, Sophia Max Brown, had male models strutting their stuff in apparel from Boss and Ralph Lauren, just to name a few. Mixing and matching colours, prints and fabrics, the young studs were luxurious in their attire as they sent chills up the spins of those present.
Inspired by the Motherland, Africa, pieces from the self-taught Bahamian designer Kejuana Beneby graced the stage. Talk about bold, funky, and eccentric. Beneby captured them all in his line.
Winner of the 2015 Campari Avant Garde Designer competition and Mission Catwalk Season 4, Kurt Campbell, gave fashionistas a feast with his Shades of Contradiction. With an unexpected mix of prints and patterns, Campbell used layers of fabric to create sophisticated pieces complemented by pearls and Cinderella's Hats.
Notably one of Jamaica?s most celebrated stylists, fresh from a project with Nick Cannon, Dexter '3D' Pottinger was back on the runway with his new collection. Dubbed The Momentum Uutilised, like most designers of the evening, a mix and match of fabrics, as well as greys, blacks, and cool animal prints were intertwined for a military look.
Closing the two-hour show was Gregory 'HOD' Williams of Mission Catwalk fame. They saved the best for last as this extraordinary collection created a mid-century vibe with uniquely sexy nudes and lace.