Kingston Creative Celebrates the Legacy and Future of Jamaican Fashion at Monthly Meetup
Kingston Creative hosted its latest Creative Meetup in Downtown Kingston, bringing together designers, stylists, fashion entrepreneurs, and cultural enthusiasts to celebrate the vibrant and ever-evolving world of Jamaican fashion.
Held in the Kingston Creative Space, a chic multi-purpose coworking space above Swiss Stores in downtown Kingston — once the bustling heart of Jamaica’s fashion retail scene — the evening served as both a tribute to the rich history of Jamaican style and a deep dive into the exciting future of the island’s fashion industry.
The event kicked off with a warm welcome to speakers, guests, and members of the fashion community. Attendees were invited to reflect on the island’s long-standing fashion identity – one rooted in Taino, African, and Colonial styles, shaped by socio-political movements and cultural expression, and defined by bold, creative evolution. From the iconic red green and gold of Rastafarian fashion to the global impact of Jamaican dancehall culture, the country’s style has always been unapologetically expressive.
Kingston Creative Cofounder Andrea Chung stated that Downtown Kingston, once home to legendary stores such as Joseph’s and Ammar’s, set the perfect stage for this conversation on fashion. “This evening honours trailblazers like Ruth Hussey, Jessica Ogden, Jose Buchanan, Heather Layne, Sadie Soas, and Sandra Kennedy — pioneers who paved the way for today’s young fashion innovators.”
The highlight of the evening was a thought-provoking panel discussion featuring fashion industry leaders Keneea Linton-George and Mecca James-Williams. “I’ve been in the industry for almost 20 years, part of the whole Fashion Week era. The current state of Jamaican fashion is that we are bursting at the seams with talent”, said Keneea. “What we don’t have is infrastructure, so the manufacturing capability needed to scale small businesses and build international brands is just not there. The global opportunity right now is for designers to “bloom where they are planted”. So we need to invest in training and technical skills so that we can manufacture more in Jamaica.”
The current fashion scene boasts designers like Rachel Scott (Diotima), Francesca Lake, Samantha Black (Sammy B), and jewelry icons Matthew Harris (Mateo) and Chari Cuthbert, whose “Vote” necklace famously adorned Michelle Obama. Style legends like Biggie, Carlton Brown, and Grace Wales Bonner continue to push boundaries, while modeling moguls Kingsley Cooper of Pulse and Deiwght Peters of SAINT International have brought Jamaican beauty and talent to international runways. The work of stylists such as Dexter Pottinger, Neko “Bootleg Rocstar” Kelly, and Ayana Riviere was also recognized for shaping the aesthetic of future generations.
“The successful designers today are speaking from a lens of authenticity, telling stories of their background, where they come from and how they see the world” commented Mecca James, owner of the Sweet Like Jam ecommerce platform. ”Its not about pinpointing the one single identity or definition of Jamaican culture, the Jamaican story is very layered and so is our ‘fashion identity’”
The evening also acknowledged the Freezone manufacturing era, which provided livelihoods to thousands and helped build an industry. The issue of sustainability was raised, and the need to shift from single-wear polyester “throwaway” garments that last forever in a landfill, to classic wardrobe pieces made of biodegradable fabrics. “I’m wearing Diotima,” commented Mecca, who was wearing a cream crocheted dress. “I’ve worn this dress four times and each time it’s styled differently”. On the theme of sustainable fabrics, it was noted that Jamaica produces Sea Island cotton – a rare and luxurious type of cotton, one of the finest and highest-quality cottons in the world, often used in high-end fashion and luxury textiles.
One pressing question from an audience member was whether Mission Catwalk would be returning this year. “Well, I can say that it is in pre-production and it is returning,” stated Keneea. “It’s a part of the fashion landscape and we have so much talent in Jamaica – the designers are hot on my heels!”
As the creative community continues to gather monthly, Kingston Creative remains committed to fostering innovation, entrepreneurship, and a healthy creative economy — one conversation at a time.