Three new designers in Fashion Collective Show

A Caribbean Fashion Week veteran, a fifteen-year-old who has been designing clothes since she was six, and a designer with a penchant for bottle tops are all new to the upcoming Fashion Collective Show by Bermuda Society of Arts.

Juliette Dyke, Celine Morton and James Lee respectively, all make their debut appearance at the event showcasing local designers tomorrow at City Hall.

The rest of the designers are Amethyst; Dana Cooper; Dean Williams; Edith Rookes; Nicole Iris; Rene Hill and Talibah Simmons.

Juliette Dyke recently moved to Bermuda from her native Jamaica and has been featured at Caribbean Fashion Week every year since 2009. Last year she was chosen to be featured in the prestigious London Fashion Week and, in 2011, the Miami International Fashion Week with her collection titled Julan.

Speaking to the Bermuda Sun, she said: “I am inspired by different things in the Caribbean — music and its culture. I really love the bohemian style — a natural style that says it is not really trying but looks very chic. I love mixing bold, unconventional colours and fabrics and making a statement.”

Described as “one to watch” by CVM TV’s On Stage her designs have also been shown in Belgium.

Celine Morton has been interested in designing clothes for as long as she can remember thanks to her fashion designer mother Michelle Fray. At the age of six her mother taught her how to sew and they spent evenings making doll clothes. Morton was chosen as one of the designers for the Evolution Fashion Show organized by Corporation of Hamilton last year where she was the youngest designer at just 14. She said: “It was an awesome experience for I was mentored by Mr Sam Broekema, executive accessories editor for Harpers Bazaar magazine.”

When she graduates from Warwick Academy, she hopes to pursue fashion design at the Fashion Institute of Technology and graduate studies at the Royal College of Art.”

She will be previewing her collection, inspired by her favourite designer Coco Chanel, at tomorrow evening’s event. Describing her style she explained: “Like Coco I have used masculine tailored features in my designs that are softened to be more feminine yet trendy. It is a party evening collection for young ladies between the ages of 15 to 25 years. 

Intricate seaming

“The collection consists of the design element of line formed by the colour blocking of a variety of silks and denim. Dresses are constructed to emphasize the waistline using intricate seaming and complementary colour blocking. There is a hint of drama in the new denim tuxedo pant that is seamed with duchess silk panels. My favourite design is the last garment to walk the catwalk; shocking pink one shoulder dress with neon yellow insets with a cascading ruffle at the shoulder.”

James Lee’s beer bottle cap swimwear was inspired by Sports Illustrated’s 2002 Dos Ekis bottle cap swimsuit made by Latarte Swimwear. 

The theme of his upcoming collection is, not surprisingly, Drunken Summer Day Dream. His bio reads: “You’re on the beach knocking back your favourite beverage and have been sitting in the heat just a little too long. The drinks are slowly starting to catch up to you…. Suddenly, the sexiest thing has entered the corner of your peripheral vision…. Instead of their swimsuit, you see your beverage lining the contours of this perfect body.”

Educated at the Bermuda College with an Associate in Art and Design, his collection is named XoeTiqu.

The Fashion Collective Show gives local designers one of the only opportunities to show off their talents on the island.

For the first time there are VIP front row tickets for the best view in the house but they are selling out quickly.

Leslie Rego, director of the gallery, told the Bermuda Sun: “The fashion show is usually a sell out night, I think because there are a lot of shows featuring overseas designers but not a lot for local designers. People like to see what Bermudians have been up to.”

This year, guests will have a chance to mingle with the designers at a special reception after the show. This will give people the chance to purchase any items that might have caught their eye on the runway.