At left: A model wears a design by Neah Lis. At right: A Saint model wears a design by Dexter Pottinger at the recently held Touch of France fashion show, held at Hilton Kingston Hotel, Knutsford Boulevard, New Kingston. - WINSTON SILL/FREELANCE PHOTGRAPHER
MANY OF Jamaica's established designers have confirmed participation in this year's Style Week Jamaica, scheduled for May 26 - 29. The three-day extravaganza will include The Bikini Festival on May 27, International Mecca of STYLE on May 28 and the eagerly anticipated FASHIONBLOCK on May 29.
The list of designers scheduled to appear includes Dexter Pottinger, Carlton Brown, MINKA, SIIM, Yola Gray, Neah Lis, RDH, Mekelia Nembhard, Shem Deeke, Coco Loco Collections, Chris Pablo and Les Campbell.
A number of the previously listed designers recently participated at the Barbados Fashion Week to critical acclaim. Dexter Pottinger, the Avant Garde designer of the year for 2004, was noted on BET.COM as the hottest new designer out of Jamaica in years. The Saint model-turned-designer reportedly received a standing ovation from international press and guests at the opening night of Barbados Fashion Week.
Other strong showings came from SIIM, Les Campbell and Carlton Brown.
The Jamaican designers will be showing alongside designers from the Caribbean, United States and Paris.
Style Week Jamaica, presented in association with the French Embassy, will close on May 29 with the spectacular FASHIONBLOCK, a fashion show in the middle of Knutsford Boulevard, featuring a 110 ft. catwalk, 10 feet longer than last year's.
