Left: A model wears a Reve necklace and a Yola Gray skirt.   Right: A model displays the Reve Humming Bird earrings which are donated to the CARE charity, benefitting women worldwide. The earring, made by Duane Bennett, is handcrafted authentic Jamaican peacock feathers, is six inches long and finished with handcrafted beads. - Contributed

It is not Milan or New York. It is not London. But as Jamaican designer Yola Gray has discovered, you do not have to make your mark in one of the traditional hubs of fashion for it to be a significant one.

As The Gleaner reported on April 16, 2006, Gray had made the bold step to undertake showing her 'Flavva Fashions' at Chicago Fashion Week. The show will take place today at the recently refurbished Chicago Museum. Uber designer Christian Dior has just opened a boutique in the museum.

At the time of the first report Gray had committed to taking designs by another local designer Chris Pablo, whose edgy male creations caught the eye of the event's organisers. However, as she told The Gleaner via telephone from Chicago yesterday, Pablo is not the only other Jamaican designer who is represented at the event. Also on the bill, and represented under the Flavva Fashions brand are designers Les Campbell, Yolande Bennett and a newcomer from old Harbour, Tercel Brown.

Duane Bennett's 'Reve' accessories are also featured on the show. The 21-year-old student of goldsmithing at the Edna Manley College of the Visual and Performing Arts is proud his designs could feature so significantly in the show.

Chance for Jamaican designers

"It is a chance for Jamaicans, especially jewellers, because there are not many jewellers that you can speak of in Jamaica," he said. "It is a chance for Jamaican designers to show their work."

Gray, is also proud of her achievement. "The Chicago Fashion Week people are ecstatic. They love our designs," she gushes.

"I've come upon embarrassing situations where the organisers of the show just keep telling people in the presence of other designers 'you should see Yola Gray's stuff, they are fabulous'," she says.

This seems to be the common reaction to the work of the Jamaican designers. Yola says that the positive feedback came not just to her outfits, but for those of the other designers as well.

Such is the buzz about the items that they are getting attention from Teresa Caldwell, rapper Bow Wow's mother, for her 'Taste' boutique in Atlanta. Other boutiques in Chicago also want to distribute the items. "Some of them want to do it exclusively, but I have to meet with them (the other designers) first to see what they want to do," Gray said.

The connection between fashion and entertainment is celebrated in the image-driven world of Hollywood. Gray's presence at Chicago Fashion Week may just allow her to benefit from that connection. She tells The Gleaner that a popular actress/model/producer, formerly of hit TV show Walker: Texas Ranger and Universal Soldier - The Return has ordered one of her designs to wear to an upcoming movie premiere in California.

No details of the outfit or the actress' name can be released until after the event, but Gray met with her yesterday to finalise details and to do the fittings of the garment.

"The only problem I'm having, and its a good problem, is that once the show is finished a lot of people want to see me, but I won't be able to see all of them because I don't have the time," Gray said. "I have to return to Jamaica to sort things out."

- Alicia Roache