Heritage sites, Style Week make good mix

As the momentum builds for the 2011 staging of Style Week Jamaica to be held from May 25-29, one of the intriguing features of the shows is the choice of venues which will be used to create spectacular backdrops for the designer creations.

The first runway show, The International Men's Collection, will unfold in the lush formal gardens of the Devon House Mansion on Friday, May 27. Then on Saturday, May 28, Fort Charles, Port Royal provides the extraordinary multilevel runway setting for the International Mecca Of Style.

Reflective of trends in the major fashion capitals such as Paris and Milan where top designers showcase their collections at some of the city's best heritage sites, executive producer Deiwght Peters notes that Style Week Jamaica will "be rocking these heritage sites by infusing them with a powerful dose of international glamour".

The mystique of the venues is as intriguing as they are powerful. Devon House is the manifestation of the architectural dream of Jamaica's first black millionaire George Steibel. A respected philanthropist, Steibel (the son of a black housekeeper and German Jew) was one of three wealthy Jamaicans who built elaborate homes during the late 19th century at the corner of Trafalgar and Hope roads, which fittingly became known as the Millionaire's Corner.

"This is like the French Riviera right here in Kingston," screamed noted fashion journalist Memsor Kamarake as he sat front row at last year's International Mecca Of Style at Fort Charles.

Models descending three storeys of steps, with cannons in the background, is indeed a sight to behold.

Fort Charles was built in the late 1650s. The legend of Port Royal as the hang-out spot for Pirates and buccaneers is alluring.

Peters highlights that international media have expressed pleasant surprise at Style Week's format.

true fashion identity

This, he said, helps to give the city a true fashion identity like no other event.

"There are many international media outlets who have expressed interest to come for the event," Peters revealed.

"It is a deliberate strategy to select venues that reflect the dynamic culture of our people and highlight the rich texture of our history as a solid image to the world," he continued.

The Saint-Devon House relationship dates back approximately five years.

The Fashion bond between Saint International and Devon House was cemented when the mansion formed the backdrop for the ground-breaking V-Man Magazine feature, which labelled Saint International among the best male model agencies in the world.

Saint International has consistently endorsed the fashionable profile of Devon House over the last five years. The company has staged events such as FashionFace Of The Caribbean, Style Week Jamaica, The V-Man Magazine Celebratory Party, The Color Me Fashion Exhibit and other model success celebrations at the venue.

So from May 25-29, the history of Jamaica's capital city will be intertwined with the glamorous spectacle of fashion, as supermodels strut designer wears down runways and celebrities pose on the red carpet, with the bright lights of cameras illuminating the spectacular nights of Style Week Jamaica 2011.

The event has partnered with the country's leading brands such as Bank of Nova Scotia, JAMPRO, Courtleigh Hotel, Kingston and St Andrew Corporation, the Urban Development Corporation, Soldanza, Appleton, Wyndham Kingston Hotel, Jamaica Tourist Board, Heart Trust/NTA, Fame FM, TVJ, Kool FM, Nationwide, Carreras, Devon House, Clear Sounds, and others to be announced.