Style Week Jamaica 2011

So while Caribbean Fashion Week 2011 is all but history now, model agency competitors Saint International recently wrapped up their version of fashion week last Sunday. Initially it had started about a week before CFW, but due to some recent rains, the final show, Fashion Block, was postponed till a further date. Usually the whole thing is kicked off with the mens shows, but seeing that I was way too late for that to have captured any real images, here's everything else that happened.

Kevin O'Brian

Based in Paris, couturier and close friend, Kevin O'Brian's collection (naturally, a highlight of the night dubbed, "International Mecca of Style") was all about couture elements augmented with dramatic head-pieces and such. Having worked closely with him before the show in helping to sequence and style the collection, (along with stylist Michael Atkinson) the quality of the pieces was exquisite; O'Brian's design aesthetic is second to none.

LaQuan Smith

US-based designer, and designer to young style icons such as Lady Gaga and Rihanna, presented his "Hard Candy" collection, inclusive of the gold body suit Rih rocked in the video for her smash hit, "Rude Boy." I have to admit that I liked the colours and use of neoprene-y fabrics through-out, even though I thought the collection was a bit bare at times.

Donovan DePass

I'm always excited when Donovan tells me he'll be showing a collection in Jamaica, as one of those designers lucky enough to have worked with a few important New York designers, (Vera Wang chief among these) he's actually pretty good at what he does. This collection didn't really have a theme, or at least one that I could quickly gauge, but there was definitely a punk edge to a few of the pieces. There were a few gowns here and there, and even a Greek goddess kinda silhouette, but I have a feeling Donovan's main focus was a 90's-esque insistence on asymmetrical cuts. 

Now onto Fashion Block. For those of you who don't know what that is, it's an annual event held here in the streets of Kingston's central business district. (And sometimes in second city Montego Bay.) A 100 foot cat-walk is mounted in the middle of the road, serving fashion a crowd sometimes as large as 50,000.
Here's what I captured:

The running order

Runway all set up 

Last minute hair and make-up

Reve Jewelry designers, Duane and Tesea

Designs from Shades of Africa

The girls, clad in designs by Gregory Williams, (who created pieces out of Soldanza, who was a main sponsor for the show, potato chips bags and even the chips themselves) make a final walk

Shena Moulton (who might I add, just walked for Christian Dior's Fall 2011 Haute Couture's collection yesterday) strikes a pose backstage 

Saint International C.E.O. Deweight Peters sends his girls on

Designs by Rick B's from his "Code Red" collection

Sessilee Lopez and Georgie Badiel for Style Week Jamaica 2010

Well, leave it up to Saint International to kick things up a notch on the runway here in Jamaica. Whether it is showing international couturiers like Kevin O'Brian and Eymeric Francois, or having international media like Arise magazine pulling looks for an editorial directly after each collection, the agency knows what it takes to put on a show.
This year was no different, as in addition to the likes of Shena Moulton and Sosheba Griffiths in the house (the two have walked for Louis Vuitton and Givenchy respectively), we were graced with the presences of two of the hottest models in the world right now- Georgie Badiel and Sessilee Lopez!
I absolutely died having met them backstage, they are too fun! They rocked the runway in designs from H.O.D. by Gregory Williams, 3D by Dexter Pottinger and Indashio. Here's a look at what happened backstage with them!

Here's my friend Jermaine posing with Sessilee and Georgie both in designs by Donovan Depass. Jermaine wears a jacket designed by Dexter Pottinger.

Kareen and Sessilee, both wearing Allan Virgo

Sessilee being interview backstage during a break

Designer Gregory Williams poses with Georgie who wears his H.O.D. design

Georgie (in H.O.D. by Gregory Williams) joins Sessilee in 3D by Dexter Pottinger

Sessilee and MEEEE!!! She's wearing a design by Indashio

Kareen with Indashio himself

Jotasha and the girls, all in Donovan Depass designs, line up

Singer-turned-designer Ashley Martin didn't show her collection, but she certainly represented

Sessilee ready to open Yola Gray's wedding collection

Style Week Jamaica 2010

 

A huge presence in the world of international modeling, Saint International is responsible for the growth and development of the likes of Shena, Sosheba, Sigail et al. Every year, their top girls and guys return here to Jamaica for the fashion spectacle that is Style Week.

Better known to the general public for its last show, the ground-breaking Fashion Block, the model agency has, consistently over the last ten years, provided a platform for the best of local fashion designers and well-noted international designers to converge and celebrate fashion.

The shows kick off next week, and i'm yet to confirm venues etc, but i'm looking forward to what this year will bring; in the last few years, the likes of Kevin O' Brian and Eymeric Francois, both from Paris, have graced the runway with their dazzling couture. Who will wow us this time around?

UPDATE: Style Week, due to recent civil unrest in Jamaica's capital and the city's current State of Emergency, has been pushed back to July 9-11. Here's the schedule:

July 9- International Men's Collection at Devon House

Jul 10- International Mecca of Style at Fort Charles in Port Royal

July 11- Fashion Block in the streets of New Kingston

All shows begin at 9pm!