The Land Of My Birth

(Photo Source: Natalie Monique)

With the Olympics only a few days away, I figured that it was basically essential for me to have a post about the event - fashion based of course. Vogue's been obsessing over it in previous issues, so why not right? While browsing through the TIME website I saw that there was a piece on the Olympic uniforms for this upcoming Olympics, including ratings on the uniforms. However, what really caught my eye was that Jamaica (my homeland, land of my birth, etc etc) was considered to have one of the best uniforms this year!!!!!! I swear I was even more excited than the extent to which the previous exclamation marks insinuate. Surprisingly enough, I saw that the uniform being used was designed by Cedella Marley, eldest daughter of Bob Marley, in collaboration with famous sports brand, PUMA, who showcased the collection at Caribbean Fashion Week last month.

Man, I remember seeing that collection and thinking, this line could really go places. Somehow Marley managed to incorporate the colours of the Jamaican flag in most if not all of her pieces, in the most flattering manner you could imagine. Believe me, before that night I didn't think the Jamaican colours could be used in an appealing manner unless it was on some form of PUMA sweater or on the flag itself - which I still question from time to time (no I'm only kidding). I remember she used a fabulous yellow-black print on the bottoms for the girls, and I especially loved it in a pair of pants, and had over the top cat-eye sunglasses as accessories. Some of the pieces weren't necessarily paired brilliantly but I could immediately imagine that print with a plain black partner, whether top or bottom to make it really interesting. Here are some photos from CFW of some piece of the collection - she also has a really fun swimsuit collection!

Props to the designer, Cedella Marley!

(Photo Source: Pulse Fashion)

While I didn't agree with all of TIME's uniform ratings - I thought that Germany's looked like a bunch of cotton candy men in the blues and pinks and that several uniforms didn't even catch the eye enough to be fit for the hardworking atheletes going to the Olympics - I realised something interesting and inspiring, in fact. Seeing the TIME's post, placing Jamaica's as one of the best along with countries like France, the UK, Italy and Germany, and further considering Cedella Marley's collection along with others of June's Caribbean Fashion Week, made me realise that fashion in Jamaica is now beginning to become a factor. A small factor perhaps, but nevertheless a factor in its own way. And besides that I feel that the people - of all ages - are becoming more fashion-conscious (THANK GOD). Who knows, maybe it's just wishful thinking. What do you all think about everything I've written about here, the uniforms, Marley's collection, a possibly pending fashion revolution (nbd) - It's a lot I know, but I just couldn't separate all of this, it just flows.

Brooke

Volunteering at Caribbean Fashion Week!!

So sorry for the lack of posts once again everyone! I've been so busy with these last few weeks of school, and now I'm preparing for end of year exams, which of course, I'm dreading.. So I'm afraid you might not see much of me until about the 28th of June, but please don't forget about me :(

Anyway, I really had to tell you all that I got the chance to Volunteer at Caribbean Fashion Week, which lasted form June 7th to 11th. I know I'm a little late in telling you about the amazing news, but I still can't resist to make a post about it. One of my friends, who is an amazing photographer by the way, Luca Khouri, managed to find a way for me to volunteer from Friday to Sunday, during the fashion shows. For the three days I was set to work keeping inventory on the shoes provided for the girls by the hosts of CFW, Pulse - a modelling agency in Jamaica (the only one). However, I mainly ended up deciding what all of the models should wear with their outfits if the designers didn't have any specific requests.

I can't even explain to you all how hard that job was, I'm not even going to lie, it was probably the hardest of all the jobs, because there were only so many shoes for the models, most of which were size nine shoes, while there were quite a few with smaller or much larger feet. But we just had to find a way to make the shoe fit, unless the designer allowed them to walk barefoot. Besides that there were so many quick changes, and after every final walk we had to basically rip the shoes off of the models and get them back to the rack. Besides there were ridiculously quick changes, and a bunch of other things that people wanted us to do at the same time.

I don't even know how to explain it to you guys so that you can actually get how rushed and hectic everything was. But even though it was ridiculous and chaotic, I somehow fell in love with it from the first night. I don't even know how I did, because I'm usually the laziest person ever and I don't like being rushed or pressured, not at school, not by parents, not by anything. But somehow I just fell in love with everything about being backstage. I'm honestly so happy I did this, I don't even know whether to do it again next year or to watch. And I forgot to tell you, lucky me got to see Nell Robinson - who has a new swimwear line BANG! that is amazing - Jaunel McKenzie, Alexia Palmer and a bunch of other really amazing Caribbean models, I felt like I was at a patisserie!

Oh and one of the designers pulled me aside and asked me to exclusively pick out shoes for each and every one of her outfits, I was really happy when that happened because I just felt like she realised I had good styling ideas, and I actually helped her to choose what looked good with what, and she was so sweet and grateful at the end. I felt so amazing :) Volunteering at CFW has really concretized the idea of me working in the fashion world when I'm older - I think I'm willing to make that decision and persevere towards that goal. Wish me luck!!

Brooke

P.S. Because this post is so long, I'll post photos in another! Don't worry, I wouldn't do that to you all!