"Fashion is not something that
exists in dresses only. Fashion is in the sky, in the
street; fashion has to do with ideas, the way we live,
what is happening." -- Coco Chanel
After so many years the fashion industry
remains a mere spark in St. Kitts and Nevis. At points
over these years our islands have managed at best to
only maintain a faltering flame, kept alive by a few
die-hard fashion forward thinkers. I personally think
that after so many years and with all the amazing talent
present here on all sides of the fashion industry, it
is high time St. Kitts and Nevis were truly recognized
as a fashion hotspot, not only by a foreign audience
but by us.
The problem? The reason I think we have not reached
this goal yet? It most certainly isn't a lack of a love
of fashion, because if there is one thing we SKNers
will always buy is clothes, after food that is. In fact
many of us go hungry for a new outfit. No, the problem
boils down to a lack of recognition and respect for
our local talent. In order for me to not fall into the
group of people that have a soapbox to rant off of and
seem to always do no more than that, I want to make
a real effort to use this column to shine some well
deserved attention on the talent that resides here.
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So, first, I want to highlight a model.
Let me tell you this, I chose this young lady for several
reasons but the most significant was her walk. A walk,
which I first saw at my premier appearance in a fashion,
after my return to these islands. It is hard to describe
a walk for you, but it simply put is fiercely memorable.
Her name is Alsanarda Hanley and she stands at only
5' 2". This height though not overly short in normal
terms, is tiny for a model, but I can tell you there
is absolutely nothing tiny about her walk. The work
of a shorter model is much harder and competing with
the easy elegance of the taller girls can make some
petite models fade and be forgotten. This isn't the
case for my first feature model. Alsanarda makes it
look easy. I, as a designer, who normally chooses the
tallest model I can find backstage to wear my line,
have no issue with seeing this girl on the stage in
my signature piece.
So far since the first time I saw
her walk I have seen her display her runway strut
at two more events, but her onstage career extends
past this. Alsanarda is a former Miss Washington High
and Miss Talented Teen. She started modeling only
a short time ago in December 2008 at the Cane Juice
Fashion Show in St. Kitts. Her fashion experience
continued with her taking the stage at both the Vivid
Designs and Brown Sugar Fashion Shows. This Kittitian
head turner with her deep-set eyes and striking face
is a humble beauty, I have recently learnt. Off the
runway Alsanarda has recently been awarded Top Model
amongst the many stunners in the agency she is part
of, S Model Management. But her talents aren't limited
to runway; she can also be seen in numerous photo
shoots, including being the centre fold in the Nevis
Pages Calendar and no doubt blowing us away in an
upcoming shoot (I personally cannot wait to see) which
she won as a part of her award.
There is no hiding the fact that models, in general,
have a reputation for being shallow and snobbish.
So it is phenomenal to come across a model who is
as gorgeous inside as she is on the surface, and when
it comes to finding one who has the skill and drive
to make SKN Fashion what it should be by now, Alsanarda
is all of the above.
But we could have two hundred Alsanardas and we will
never truly become a fashion hub without people to
create the beautiful clothes for models like her to
wear. So it is a good thing our talent pool isn't
limited to beautiful faces and fierce struts. No,
we have designers here, with talent that is undeniable
- one of which I wish to feature today.
Empress Yejide and I first met as
models many years ago in Finesse Model Agency (which
I am sure most of the girls who walk our runways now
don't even remember). Like me, Yejide has now found
another side of fashion that is her niche. Unlike
me, her talents aren't limited to one strength. She
is also a well known Loctician, AfriKan Hair Culturist
and Herbalist. All of this along with possessing the
ability to cover the human body uniquely and beautifully.
I enjoy seeing her designs on the stage because of
their pure naturalistic vibe. Designing under the
label Njambi D-Zines, Yejide's acceptance of Rastafari
and it teachings are fully depicted in each of her
pieces. My personal favourite is a baby-T I saw her
show in one fashion event, which read "Black
by Birth, Nappy by Choice". Njambi is a collection
of clothes full of colour and comfort. It consists
of many African inspired items which all seem to highlight
the wearer's spirit more than their curves, though
there are a few that achieve that too. Though not
technically trained this self-taught designer has
created a line that includes casual to elegant pieces
and even some bridal wear. Featuring a running theme
of red, green and gold, this Caribbean line is made
up of items for children, men and women.
Yejide has shown a range that comprises of hand painted
and printed fabrics, appliqué techniques, complete
and partially croche pieces and an interesting use
of T-shirts to create new fun garments. Yejide is
also talented in head-wrapping and adds this regal
finishing touch to most of her ensembles. But what
I love most about this designer's creations is that
many of them can be worn separately and merged into
most wardrobes. I have to respect any designer who
can make clothes that own so much of their own character
without limiting any wearer's personal style.
I step off my soapbox this week feeling good because
I have done my little part in highlighting two extraordinary
ladies of our federation. I want to finish it all
up by getting a little serious; bear with me, I will
be quick. I think it is essential in anything positive
a country wants to achieve, including Fashion, that
its people learn to supports its own.
Please suggest weekly topics or make comments good
or bad! Let me know what's on your mind by emailing
fashion2thestreet@gmail.com and find me on Facebook.
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