Leighton Levy, Gleaner Writer

SAINT International's model, Tafari Hinds, is now a central face for the latest Vivienne Westwood international campaign. Hinds is appearing for two of the legendary British designers' labels - Accessories and Purple.

The campaign was shot in London by one of fashion's most influential photographers Juergen Teller.

Dame Vivienne Westwood is one of fashion's most influential figures, credited as a pioneer of the punk movement. In the 1980s Women's Wear Daily hailed her as one of the six most influential designers of all time. She has been awarded the OBE (Order of the British Empire by Queen Elizabeth II).

Strong, exotic features

Hinds was discovered by Saint International's CEO Deiwight Peters during CVM's Faces of Summer Model Search in 2001. Hinds' strong, exotic features appealed to the panel of international judges who voted him into the Top 5 males of the competition.

"It is obvious who the Caribbean's most successful male-model-of the-moment is Tafari Hinds," says Peters, Saint boss.

"He has been committed to his vision of international success and this achievement is yet another sterling display of Saint International's sophisticated brand of models on the world fashion stage."

Shortly after he was signed to Saint International and then did a photo shoot with influential photographer Marlena Bielinska. He was styled by official Saint stylist Tyron Mayes, who has worked with Mariah Carey, Destiny's Child, Oprah Winfrey and Iman. The portfolio from this shoot earned Hinds a contract with Bookings Model Management in London a few months later.

Int'l modelling

However, he did not begin his international modelling career until 2003.

Juergen Teller is one of contemporary fashion's most influential photographers. He has been shooting the Marc Jacob's campaign since 2005 and his editorial credits include glossy magazines such as all the Vogues, W, Dazed and Confused, and major campaigns include Commes De Garcon, Helmut Lang, Yves St Laurent, Calvin Klein, and Louis Vuitton,

Hinds recently shot an editorial for Dazed and Confused and made a second appearance in GQ STYLE styled by fashion powerhouse Tom Ford (formerly of Gucci fame).