“It is easy to see the glow but hard to recognize the awakening of silence.” – Dejan Stojanovic
This is the fitting quote for this year’s MoDA 2019 theme which is Glow. According to MoDA series Founder, Kerry-Ann Clarke “It’s all about good choices, good style, as part of a holistic practice.
As the curtains were pulled back to reveal the anticipated decor of this year’s staging of the Collection MoDA Runway, expressions of admirations and a plethora of “wows” and of course the Jamaican expression “wikkid” used to describe something that is amazing! The attention this year was in the sky or rather above the Runway as acclaimed Jamaican dancer Kerry-Ann Henry made her way on the runway like a graceful swan in her sparkly costume and perfectly pointed toes! Soon after as the music began to swell two tiny dancers entered the runway showing off their dancing prowess quite elegantly in their perfectly coordinated routine! It had begun! There were flexible aerial silk dancers in their “Glowing” ensembles and even a contortionist who left the invited guests in a state of shock and wonder! The Runway with its neon-bright lights and modern decor elements set the stage for the amazing presentation that was about to be unveiled.
First on the Runway was “Grand Master” Trinidad and Tobago based Designer Claudia Pegsus with her capsule collection that seemed to take us through the seasons and went from black to white to beautiful pastel tones with floral head-pieces to complete the look! Pegsus credited her recent trip to our very own Montego Bay as the inspiration behind her designs where she was able to merge pieces from her recent black and white collection with her new structured looks.
Up next was Venezuelan – American Designer Lisu Vega with her beautiful jewel-toned satin pieces and unique rope armor accessory that gave the collection a modern take on a utilitarian look. Interestingly enough, the rope pieces were woven together by upcycled by rope fibers!
The 3rd Designer on the Runway was the talented New York-based Designer Mr. Carlton Jones himself who presented his chic resort-wear collection perfect for the woman who vacations often and who likes to stand out. The soft yet bold brushstroke prints are reminiscent of the Designer’s aesthetic. We applaud his tasteful cheeky peek-a-boo moments and of course the fun cut-outs!
The Designer repping for St. Vincent & the Grenadines Kimon Baptiste-St Rose with his Kimmysticclo Fashion label made his debut on the MoDA Runway with his beautiful A-line dresses and linen pieces and stand-out exaggerated ruffled sleeves dresses and jumpsuits perfect for a posh Spring Brunch!
Project Runway Season 9 Alum and Detroit based Fashion Designer Joshua Christenson brought modern-matador vibes to the Runway! His collection featured baroque elements, latex, lace and even an LED corset dress for the finale. This collection packed a bold punch to blur the lines between gender fluidity where it saw males in a leather suit with a corset to leather jackets with lace details.
Korto Momolu was up next with her Collection made of hemp fabric! This was an excited yet unexpected change for Momolu as sustainable fashion is now a choice for several designers. Her beautiful Afro-centric prints were beautiful on the runway as she seamlessly combined beautiful colors + sequence together to keep her signature designs forefront.
As the show drew closer to its end, we were introduced to the lone Jamaican Designer Andre Stephens founder and creative director of Premier Gentleman who brought excitement to the Runway! The collection opened with a beautiful two-piece leopard print jumpsuit — the collection was well-received as the pieces were unisex and could be worn by both male and female. It was whimsical, bold, fun and eclectic!
Closing the show this year was BVI native Germaine Smith with his Kym’Asia label! This collection featured sophisticated Black and White Dresses and gowns! These dresses looked like something out of the Great Gatsby that descended into the modern world. Each piece featured various elements that were not overdone including feathers, mid-drift bearing tops some cinched at the waist and others with neoprene influences.
The Collection MoDA 2019 was a great success with talented designers across the region and we are always excited to see how they will get even better next year.
Thanks to Maurice Tucker of Image Jamaica for capturing the Images this Year| ALL RIGHTS RESERVED (876) 297-0002.
Photos Credits also to LLewlynt Photos
Photos are the property of Haute People and should not be used without permission. Please email us at hautepeople@yahoo.com for the usage of our photos
