Saint's Trissan captivates South Africa

After a successful run on the catwalks of London Fashion Week for the Spring Summer Collections in September, Saint star Trissan Holder received an invitation (via Saint International) from the organisers of Africa Fashion Week to appear as a guest model for its annual presentation. The Jamaican model is based between London and Paris.

Trissan was flown from London to South Africa, and appeared for 13 of the top designer collections at the Johannesburg-based event. These included Kluk Cgdt, Tart, Alexander Koutny, Maki Oh, Christine Brown, Soucha, Jacob Kimme, Thula, Taibo Bacar, and the African Fashion Awards. Earning the coveted opening and closing slots on the shows made her a media darling in the African fashion capital.

The intense media buzz surrounding her arrival in South Africa, and her subsequent runway appearances, caused a firestorm of requests from leading fashion players including magazine editors, photographers, show producers, stylists and make-up artistes. She has already shot editorials including Marie Claire and already has options for Glamour, Elle and others scheduled for early January. Originally planning to return to London in December, clients have requested an extension of her stay in South Africa.

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The 6ft. beauty hails from Montego Bay and was the winner for the FashionFace Of The Caribbean title in 2007. "Trissan is an unmistakable beauty whose features are alluring as her personality is engaging," says Saint CEO Deiwght Peters who is the architect for Trissan's international career.

Trissan's exotic and androgynous looks have found favour with some of fashion's major global players. They have likened her to supermodel Lorraine Pascale with the emorable gap-tooth that made her a Vogue favourite throughout the 80s. Trissan made her fashion film debut in an Alexander McQueen Tribute film shot by Britain's celebrated Vogue-cover photographer Nick Knight. Excerpts from the film featuring Trissan was used in the Born This Way music video by pop music sensation Lady Gaga. Powerful lens-man Rankin also commissioned the Jamaican beauty for his Switch On/Off fashion film project.

Other noted editorial appearances included Vice, Twill, Mykro, Fab and Prestige magazines (Paris) as well as Christian Louboutin look-book, which will be featured in an exhibition in Holland. She also lent her sleek image to the look-book project for Coast+ Weber+ Ahaus which she shot recently in Berlin and will be featured in Milan.

Trissan's runway mileage included stints for Bernard Chandram (which she closed), Belle Sauvage, Bodyarmor, Carlotta Gherzi for Sado, Jacob Gimme, KTZ (which she opened and closed), Bunmi Koko, and Alex Noble.

The Saint-South African connection

As far back as 1999, Saint International formed links with major players in the South African fashion market. Saint CEO Deiwght Peters visited the country in 2001 to get first-hand insight into the industry. There, Saint models captured commercials, editorials and major advertising campaigns across the cities. Janine Henry, Kibwe McGann, Kanhai Condison, Leah Marville, CJ, Jotasha Turnbull and many others served a stint in the exotic South African market.

Saint has collaborated with the South African High Commission in executing exceptional fashion presentations as celebrations for South African Independence Day. Saint has also hosted South African designers Mark and Michael, Sister Bucks at StyleWeek Jamaica, solidifying the creative links between the motherland and Jamaica.

New generation of stars

Trissan is among a new generation of Caribbean fashion stars from the Saint International camp who are making an indelible mark on the global fashion scene. She joins an illustrious group including Shena Moulton, Orneila Edwards, Sam Taylor, Raschelle Osbourne, Ashane Rose, Chantel Lee, Tsheca White, Kim Gordon among others.

This past runway show season, Saint International models exclusively represented Jamaica on the catwalks of London, Milan and Paris, appearing for some of the world's top designers.