Renee Ratcliffe takes the big one!

Photo credit: Nationnews.com



A huge, huge congratulations to a truly inspiring islandista Renee Ratcliffe on taking the biggest prizes for mas in this year's Crop-Over festival.

After years of knocking at the door, Renee bested the veterans queens of the mas - Gwyneth Squires and Betty West, coming out on top to win the prestigious Festival Designer of the Year and Large Band of the Year for her Jump Promotions' presentation Spirit of the Gap.

Truly, Renee deserved to win and as a still young designer, her victory augurs well for the future of the festival. I got a look at Jump before they moved off from Warrens and the presentation had just that right balance of artistry and sexy we have debated times before here on Islandista.

Not to mention that Renee is someone with a fantastic spirit. As a cub reporter I interviewed her some years back after she had suffered two debilitating heart attacks and a stroke when she was just 28 years old and contrary to the expression "serious as a heart attack" she was bussing big jokes about it all!

Congrats again - it's your time Renee!

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How will Tivoli terror affect JA's entertainment scene?

That is the question entertainment and cultural promoters and performers must be asking themselves after a quiet week in Kingston, Jamaica entertainment-wise.

The 'terror in Tivoli' has inflicted wounds not just on the hundreds injured and scores killed, but on Jamaica's economy and Kingston's vibrant entertainment scene.

The Jamaica Observer reports that a host of entertainment events, from regularly scheduled parties like Uptown Mondays, Weddy Wednesdays and Dudus' own Passa Passa, have been cancelled.

Larger one-off or seasonal events like the scheduled WI v South Africa test cricket, the final staging of May Daze and the Jamaica Observer's Food Awards, have also been moved, cancelled and postponed.

Islandista-wise, Saint International's StyleWeek is a major casualty. StyleWeek was originally set for this weekend but the organisers called it off, issuing a statement:

"After much consultations and observation of the prevailing political climate, we think it's prudent to change the date for this year's staging of Styleweek Jamaica."

Styleweek is now slated for July 9-11.

Meanwhile, Caribbean Fashion Week has also taken the same approach- pushing back their event by just a week from its original June 8-14 date to June 15-21.

Reggae Sumfest, possibly Jamaica's most high profile event full stop, has also had to issue a statement on how they will approach the July 18-24 reggae festival. Johnny Gourzong, one of the executive producers, said:

"Reggae Sumfest is important to Jamaica’s tourism and impacts positively on the economy and despite reduced sponsorship, we decided it was important to beat the odds and host the Festival this year".

 One 'benefit' is that Sumfest is slated, as always for St.James, on the northern coast of Jamaica, hours away from the epicentre of the violence in Kingston. A drawback, as anyone who knows JA knows, is that St. James/MoBay is not exactly sweetness and light and there were rumblings that St. James would have been a focal point for the unrest that Dudus supporters allegedly threatened to spread throughout the land.

It will be interesting to see how these two high-profile events will be able to deal with the fall-out from the Tivoli violence.

The fact that they have chosen just to push them back indicates that there is too much at stake to cancel them altogether but with people so leery of Jamaica in general and Kingston in particular, we can only hope for the best for them ... and for Jamaica's entertainment scene on the whole.

One thing, Jamaicans are nothing if not resilient. We are hopeful.

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Summer Carnival season 2010 is here!

Ye, ye, last year we announced this in May but we are just busting this year! We even more hype than usual!

And the bands aren't holding back either - two bands from traditional August carnivals - Antigua's Myst and Barbados' Berger Boyz, have already launched, all in April... so why should we hold back!

In the words of Queen Fay-Ann ... let's go!

The Vincies and Lucians already have things well underway for their July carnivals which are July 5th & 6th and July 19th & 20th this year.

In SVG, Ahdrenalin is going hard with their presentation 'Western Mayhem- the Decline of Western Civilisation'. Check some of our faves.






[caption id="attachment_2273" align="aligncenter" width="270" caption="Material Girl (Photo credit: Ahdrenalin.com)"][/caption]






[caption id="attachment_2274" align="aligncenter" width="270" caption="Wings of Hope"][/caption]







[caption id="attachment_2275" align="aligncenter" width="270" caption="Exotic Delusion"][/caption]

Interestingly enough, even though the eagle-eyed Saucy over at Trinidad Carnival Diary has picked up at least one remix from Trini band D'Krewe, with Ahdrenalin's Nights of Debauchery being a dead ringer for D'Krewe's Sorceror, that costume was not even near our favourite so I guess it just goes to show...

Check out some more of our faves from St. Lucia Carnival's Just for Fun and their reimagining  of the Great Loves of the Past under the cut.






[caption id="attachment_2276" align="aligncenter" width="258" caption="Dr. Zhivago"][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_2278" align="aligncenter" width="253" caption="Bonnie & Clyde"][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_2277" align="aligncenter" width="252" caption="Paris and Helena"][/caption]

Up North, London's Notting Hill Carnival bands are also launching and Bacchanal Mas was one of the first out the gates. Their presentation this year is called Traditions and we're loving it, even though it too has its detractors on TCD. Someone said slyly that they should call it Traditions of Tribe - an obvious reference to Tribe's 2007 'Old Time Something'  which we featured and praised here on Islandista some years ago.

Here are two sections we especially loved - Pierrot Grenade (LOVE the headpiece interpretation!) and (blue?) Devils.






[caption id="attachment_2279" align="aligncenter" width="284" caption="Devils Frontline"][/caption]

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="294" caption="Pierrot Grenade headpiece"][/caption]

And here is how they translated in person at the band's launch a fortnight ago in London-town.






[caption id="attachment_2282" align="aligncenter" width="294" caption="Devils Frontline"][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_2283" align="aligncenter" width="320" caption="Pierrot Grenade"][/caption]

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Farewell Rex

No, he's not an islandista but every islandista worth her salt should know of Professor Rex Nettleford - since islandistas are after all, cultured Caribbean women and Rex was a cultural icon in this region.

And now he's gone.

Nettleford died yesterday in the U.S. at the age of 76 after having a massive heart attack  a week ago when he was up there for a UWI fund-raising gala.

There are so many worlds in which Rex will be missed - from dance to academia to the seemingly ever smaller world of committed Caribbean regionalists. He truly was a giant and it says a lot for the power of his personality that someone born with nearly every disadvantage you could have in Jamaican society - from being poor to being from the country to his sexuality to complexion - could still rise to iconic status.

We have nothing but admiration for him. Walk good Professor.

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To Bey or not to Bey?

Ok, ok, that isn't really the question because there is no way in hell that TSTT, Brian Lara and Dwight Yorke are going to give up the big money bound to come in from the Beyonce concert scheduled for two days after Trini Carnival.

Especially not with the US$200 VVIP tickets sold out on the first day.

But with all the bacchanal swirling around the concert in Trinidad, what with concert promoters bawling out that it is going to hurt their business and people querying how the state-owned TSTT could be funding the concert over Carnival, we want to know what islandistas think.

On the one hand, we can definitely see the perspective of the promoters, because the Beyonce concert is going to suck out money that would have been going their way. Lawd knows Carnival is expensive as it is so people are going to have to pick between a fete (or two) and the Beyonce show.

On the other hand, we can also see this being a plus for Trinidad Carnival on the whole by bumping up the number of islandistas (and islandistos) that may decide to fly in for the festivities, since they can take in the concert same time.

And with Machel and Destra being out of Carnival this year and Alternative Concept squashed, this might be the crowd-puller that Carnival needs in these recessionary times...

What says you, islandistas?

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All we want for Christmas... is some pepperpot!

Hard-working islandista soul singer Melanie Fiona may be away from home and working on Christmas Day but she's still going to keep her Christmas Caribbean.





[caption id="attachment_1837" align="aligncenter" width="382" caption="A plate of pepperpot would make Christmas right for islandistas Melanie Fiona and Rihanna. (Photo credit: Cynthia Nelson/Tastes Like Home)"][/caption]



 



The Guyanese-Canadian singer, who received her first Grammy nomination earlier this month, told Rap-Up.com about her Christmas plans. Like most West Indians the Toronto-born singer has family all over and is going to spend part of Christmas day with relatives in Miami.

And just like Guyanese-descended Rihanna, who was earlier this month mourning that she may not get pepperpot for Christmas, Melanie Fiona's hoping for some traditional Guyanese Christmas fare too, saying:

"My family is Guyanese, so every Christmas morning we have pepperpot and garlic beef or garlic pork, and my mom makes homemade bread. Anything to do with my heritage is what is my fondest memory… All the crazy stuff that comes with being West Indian, I love it.”

No ... we love it!

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Island folk honoured by Congressional Black Caucus

 



[caption id="attachment_1558" align="alignleft" width="293" caption="Sheryl Lee Ralph with her husband Pennsylvania State Senator Vincent Hughes. (Photo credit: Margot Jordon/Black Socialite)"][/caption]

Islandistas and islandistos were all up in the do two weekends ago when the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation held their annual Phoenix Awards and dinner in Washington D.C.

 

As ever, the event was a high-wattage gathering of true black star power and this year was topped off by an address by President Barack Obama.

Several island folk were honoured at this year's awards - Jamaican-born actress Sheryl Lee Ralph, Haitian-born musician and humanitarian Wyclef Jean were among the honorees, as were islandistas by descent Cicely Tyson (born to Nevisian parents) and Susan Rice (of Jamaican descent).

Bermudan Premier Ewart Brown also turned out for the event, as did former Essence head honch Susan L. Taylor (Kittitian and Trini through her parents).

Makes you proud to be from one of these little rocks, doesn't it? : )

Check The Black Socialite and Fab Empire for more pics and coverage!

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Islandista on the rise: Speech Debelle

Because we love to read stories about islandistas doing well and even better yet, doing well against the odds... today we bring to you... Speech Debelle.

Who's she?

Well, just the under-underdog winner of one of the most prestigious awards in British music - the Mercury Prize.

Her story is the break-out, fairytale story of this year's prize, which went down last week.

With just 1500 copies of her album Speech Therapy sold thus far, the underground rapper burst into the mainstream when she won the Mercury, which is given for the best album in the United Kingdom.

Speech Debelle came up as Corynne Elliot (so much more West Indian sounding, isn't it?) in South London. Her back story is unfortunately, not that unusual among British Caribbean people. She was born to Jamaican parents. Her father left her mother when Corynne/Speech was 6 years old. He went on to be the village (or council?) ram, having eight more children with six women.

They don't get on, to say the least. In her song Daddy's Little Girl, she raps:


'Daddy, I think I love you cause I hate you so much that I must love you.'


She kicked up trouble at school, getting suspended 11 times and getting expelled at 15.

Her mother, a housing benefits officer trying to raise her on her own, was not amused.

On top of that, Speech/Corynne started using weed, which made her moody and depressed. She and her mother got into it all the time and she eventually moved out when she was 19.

She bounced from friends' places to hostels, was essentially homeless and committed petty crimes to keep clothed and fed. She admits now that she was too blasted hard-ears to return home to her mother, telling the Times:


“I didn’t want to. You don’t, if you feel like nobody really gives a f***. I wasn’t talking to my mum; I never talk to my dad. I’ve got my aunts and uncles doing their nuts. When you’re like that, you really don’t care about anyone. It’s hard to get out of that frame of mind.


Eventually, years and maturity brought her to her senses and when she was 23, she made back up with her mother and moved back in.

 Her outlet of  course, was music, which brings us back to the present day and her big win, which many say is the biggest surprise ever sprung even in the usually unpredictable Mercury Prize.

Speech is looking forward to her musical future. She's planning to start a record label with the £20, 000 first prize and she told the Daily Mail:

 


"There's a lot of music that sounds the same, all day on the radio and my album don't sound like their album and it's still won the Mercury Prize. Hopefully this will throw a wrench in the system and people will hear this album and realise they don't have to make music that sounds the same - they can make music that sounds good."


[caption id="attachment_1481" align="alignleft" width="214" caption="Photo credit: Getty Images"][/caption]

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Rihanna in blackface & Islandistas on I-D cover

Islandistas are all over the place for the September round of fashion magazines.

Islandistas Jourdan Dunn and Arlenis are featured on the cover of the September issue of I-D magazine, along with fellow models of colour Chanel Iman and Sessilee Lopez in a historic all-black cover.

Jourdan, who is five months pregnant (reportedly with a boy), spoke about her baby's father, the pressures on minority models and how she has finally become comfortable with not having the type of body prized in the Afro-Caribbean community.

About her boyfriend:


My boyfriend didn't even know I was a model when I started going out with him and we've been together for three years now. It's hard, you never really know whether people want to be around Jourdan or Jourdan Dunn, and he's been there from when I was just Jourdan.


About her body:


“I’m starting to feel more secure in who I am now. Being from an Afro-Caribbean family, being black, skinny, isn’t really acceptable in that community; it’s all about having curves and stuff.... That’s why I’ve never been comfortable with my body until now, when I realize I can say this is who I am, I’m healthy, I’ve always liked to eat, and I’m now happy enough in my own skin to not give a fuck what anyone says about me any more.


About the pressures on black models:


There are loads of black models working and the idea that there's only a few of us, or four of us, to let in as top models at any one time is just bullsh*t. It creates an unnecessary competition when we should be standing together.


True talk Jourdan. Pity Naomi didn't recognise this back in the day and was so mean to Tyra.

In other islandista fashion magazine news, we have more pics from Rihanna's shoot for the couture supplement of Vogue Italia.

And... we're on the fence about it.

Yes, it is supposed to be edgy and most of the pictures are very dark and stark but in some of them, it's like Klein is just relying on using disturbing and stereotypical imagery to get a rise.

The shots are littered with them - below is a shot that seems to hint at bondage and violence against women - pretty inappropriate considering what Rihanna has been through.




[caption id="attachment_1395" align="aligncenter" width="360" caption="photo credit: Stephen Klein for Italian Vogue"][/caption]




There is another shot which seems reminiscent of blackface to me which is ... uncomfortable to do with any black model, far less one whose black and white sides are not many generations back.





Seriously. What the feck is this? We know that is not Rihanna's complexion and she does not even look like this in the majority of the pics so it is not like it is a make-up theme that is running throughout the shoot.







And then this one where she's on her hands and knees - in a pretty animalistic, stalking-type pose.





Black woman as fearsome animal? Hmm. Aren't fetishistic white fashion photogs tired of this yet?




There are other great shots like the two below but the inclusion of these kinds of images is a little suss to this islandista. What do you think?

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Bring back the 90s!

It's inevitable isn't it?

Just like how 70s fashion came back in the 90s with bell-bottoms (flares anyone) and afros being ok again and the 80s has hideously resurfaced in recent years with everything from acid-wash to shoulder pads and (urgh*) Hammer pants, being regurgitated, we figure the 90s has to be the next decade of fashion to come back in fashion.

In fact, we're already on the border of late 80s/ early 90s style anyway.

Yes, it's a rather scary prospect to us here at Islandista too since that fashion moment will officially mean that we're... not so young anymore. Truth be told, having the 80s come back into fashion is pretty horrifying to us too. It's waaayyy too close for comfort.

But it is surely inevitable.

In fact, we spy signs of it already. The August issue of US Vogue talking up velvet as a key trend for fall was a hint. New York Magazine is also trumpeting velvet as a fall trend too.

And surely we can all remember how big velvet was in the 90s. Long velvet skirts and long velvet dresses in rich colours like ruby red, forest green, deep blue, purple and jet black were the thing in the early to mid 90s.

And to be honest, this is one 90s trend we don't mind seeing come back. Velvet looks and feels good and is more forgiving than other fabrics. Plus - no ironing!

Fellow bloggers are also foreseeing the return of the 90s - Jezebel had a hilarious post about it and Fashion Bomb chronicled the mostly stylish tv students of  (mostly) the 90s.

So without further adieu, here are the Top Ten 90s trends we here at Islandista want to see come back - just for shits and giggles.






1. Overalls - yes we said it. With one strap hanging down too! So there.




2.Plaid skirts and knee high socks a la Clueless. Oh you know you have some secret nostalgia for those days too. In 1995-96, ALL I craved for the series of big school fairs was to get a  hot plaid skirt and matching babydoll tee. Which brings us to...




3. Babydoll everything. Yes, EVERYTHING damn it! Babydoll dresses, babydoll tees, the ridiculous babydoll hairdo with a giant bun at each side like Princess Leia... bring it all back! Well... maybe not the hairdo. But the rest sure - babydoll dresses are super comfortable. Not flattering but comfortable. And they are a great equalizer of body types...




4. Dark lipstick. In fact, this may already be one trend that is sneaking back, according to the Getty Blog. Check Pixie Geldof in a dark lip and bleach blonde hair a la Drew Barrymore in the 90s at Cannes earlier this year.  




5. Chokers. A goth-ish looking black velvet one with a silver pendant is really best for true 90s redux but any variation would do. Except those swirly plastic ones. Which shamefully, we had. And wore. With pride. We were so young and foolish.




6. Platform shoes/clogs or any chunky soled shoe that makes it difficult to lift your foot and present the very real risk of falling off your shoes. Spice Girls anyone?




   7. Butterfly clips. God, remember those? All kinds of damn butterfly clips from the small, plastic colourful ones to quivering, dramatic metal ones. And of course there were too  many girls that just... took... it... too far and festooned their hair with literally dozens of clips. Interesting to see how that would play out as we enter the 2010s.




8. Signage. Peace signs, ying-yang signs, smiley face signs - all over the place. On shirts, on pendants, on stickers, on earrings. Loved it!




9. Culottes. Floral ones at that. Mwahahahaha! We're getting dangerous here!




10. And last but not least... BLOSSOM HATS!  Oh yes. In velvet with the big, funky old flower to boot.

 

So islandistas, what would be your top 90s trends that you'd like to see make a comeback, if only for the fun of laughing at the kids thinking they are oh so cool in them? Let us know!

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Wonderful Zoe Saldana photo spread in Vanity Fair

Hollywood's favourite islandista, Zoe Saldana is featured in the September issue of Vanity Fair (aka the big Style Issue)in a fabulous, Harlem Renaissance-themed photo shoot.

It plays on Zoe's penchant for getting cast in movie roles as the one lady among the men (Pirates of the Caribbean, Star Trek and the upcoming sci-fi flick Avatar).

I love how they combined that with the Harlem renaissance looks and how dignified and sharp the brothers, both young and old, look in these pictures. Obviously, Zoe is th star, but they definitely add a finesse to the photos.

Call it the Obama effect but I am seeing us portrayed much more  and more beautifully in mainstream publications these days.

Check out some of the shots.

 

[caption id="attachment_1338" align="aligncenter" width="450" caption="Photo credit: Michael Roberts for Vanity Fair"][/caption]

 

[caption id="attachment_1339" align="aligncenter" width="450" caption="Photo credit: Michael Roberts for Vanity Fair"][/caption]

 

[caption id="attachment_1340" align="aligncenter" width="450" caption="photo credit: Michael Roberts for Vanity Fair"][/caption]

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Caribbean artistes on BET's Rising Icons

You don't have to tell us in the Caribbean that our stars are on the rise.

It's like the world is finally waking up to a Caribbean moment in sports and culture. Between our dominating sports stars like Usain Bolt, Shelly-Ann Fraser and even Lewis Hamilton and our up and coming artistes like Rihanna, Hal Linton, Shontelle and Melanie Fiona, the world is getting a dose of Caribbean flavour in recent years.

And as it so happens, two Caribbean artistes - Barbados' Hal Linton and Guyana-descended Melanie Fiona are featured in BET's upcoming feature collaboration with Grey Goose- the Rising Icons series.

Check out some pics from Hal's performance below.

 



 

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TC wins at last... and how!

[caption id="attachment_1305" align="alignleft" width="269" caption="photo source: Nationnews.com"][/caption]

For years now, Barbados' TC has been one of those 'always a bridesmaid, never a bride' kaisonians.

Second and third place knew her well and even though she was a perpetual finalist in Barbados' Calypso Monarch contest and a regular finalist in the Party Monarch contest, she never could seem to make the breakthrough.

Sometimes the judges seemed to mess her up, preferring 'shareholders' like Red Plastic Bag and Gabby to her and sometimes she was her own worst enemy like in 2005 when she had the Calypso Monarch title in her hand after a brilliant first half and then just dashed it away with a weirdly low-key performance of her bigger song in the second half.

But...she did it at last!

Today at Farley Hill, TC won not just the Party Monarch contest but the first ever Sweet Soca (aka groovy soca) contest with her big tune Hot Sun and Riddim.

No longer will she have to endure the 'she's a great calypsonian but..."  discussion.

She got crowns now.

Honestly, the Party Monarch result took folks by surprise, especially since TC was one of three contestants who just re-sang the song they performed like... an hour earlier in the Sweet Soca contest.

The only difference was that she did the 'road mix' of it but I don't know how many people picked up on that.

But for sure, she deserved her Sweet Soca win - even though there were other people with more popular songs going in like Natahlee's What We Do and Mikey's I In Dat, her performance and presentation was simply above the rest.

In the Party Monarch it was more like... well, why not TC? Again, none of the other contestants with bigger songs (Mikey, we looking at you again with the party-smasher Riddum Sekshun) raised the level of their game to a point that made you say 'ye, dem got de crown for sure'. TC's performance was not as surprisingly fresh as it was in the Sweet Soca contest obviously but she did change up the presentation and her costume somewhat and the song got people moving.

So why not TC? She's certainly waited long enough and this like it is the year for islandistas to sweep some titles.

Congrats to her from us here at islandista.

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The Marleys meet the Obamas

The First Family of Reggae met the First Family of the United States recently.

Matriarch Rita Marley, her son Ziggy Marley and assorted little Marleys visited the White House recently and snapped a pic and got autographs from President Barack Obama and his First Lady Michelle. Check the pics below.

[caption id="attachment_1252" align="aligncenter" width="435" caption="photo source: ybf.com"][/caption]

Dreadlocks in the White House? Loving it!

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ISLANDISTA EXCLUSIVE: Vashtie Kola speaks for herself

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="450" caption="photo credit: myspace.com/violettenewyork"][/caption]


  



Islandistas, I know it is from 19-how long that we promised you our exclusive interview with multi-talented islandista it girl and 'Downtown's Sweetheart', Vashtie Kola.

But you know how it is... good things come to those who wait... and keep reading Islandista in the meantime!

So without further adieu, here are some unfiltered insights into the life and work of Vashtie Kola.

[caption id="attachment_1214" align="alignleft" width="193" caption="photo credit: myspace.com/violettenewyork"][/caption]

On growing up as a Trini in upstate New York:

 Both of my parents are Trinidadian. They emigrated to America in the 70s and I was born in the States. So my understanding of being Trinidadian is kind of different to most children who grew up in Trinidad.


There were also some West Indian families- mostly Jamaican or Guyanese but no Trinidadians. So growing up it was kind of me doing a lot of research to understand what it meant to be Trinidadian.

[Trying to explain her Trini heritage to those around her when she was young] It was a little confusing for them and it was confusing to me as well. I looked Indian but I wasn’t Indian. Trying to explain the culture – you knowI eat curry chicken, my mum is Hindu but my dad is Christian. …trying to explain all those different elements.  I tried to get away from it when I was younger. When I was a kid I definitely tried to be more American – I didn’t want to be Trinidadian. As I got older and started to understand my culture and my heritage, I grew to appreciate it more.


USA outside, Trini inside:


My parents are and were very Trinidadian and very traditional in that manner. For me I know that my parents would always talk about American kids and the difference in culture between there and Trinidad. We ate traditional food. My mum would show me Trinidadian music and movies. Once I walked in my door it seemed like Trinidad.


Always the artsy one:


Growing up I was always very creative. I was always making things - I would make my own clothes. I was always drawing. I felt comfortable and natural being that way. I studied directing and film in college. When I was there I was also taking film screening classes and making t-shirts. 

 The film aspect I studied because I wanted to learn every aspect. I wanted to really focus in on that. As far as drawing, I was always naturally a good artist. I always felt that making clothes and stuff would happen naturally for me.


On 1992, the party phenomenon she started with best friend, Oscar:


That was the first party that I started with my best friend, Oscar. There are so many parties going on and so many things happening and New York is also very elitist in a way. Yo u are constantly judged.  The idea was for us to do a party where it would be welcome to all people – it was not a place you would be judged. We wanted to do an event that would bring all kinds of people together.

We loved the 90s. It was organic and it grew huge. We got crazy press from the New York Times, Page 6 – that happened pretty naturally. We actually have a huge international following that plan their trips around when we have 1992. It’s been really great.

It’s funny because in the beginning we were just inviting people that we knew. We didn’t print flyers, we didn’t email blast and they knew.


Stepping out on her own:


I worked at Def Jam for a year. That was my introduction into the industry of entertainment. It was a lot of me being behind the scenes and not being as creative as I want to be. When I left Def Jam I decided I would do everything I wanted to do and stop putting it off.  I would do all the things I wanted to do and make it happen. 

It was a step out of the nest for me. My parents were very much 'go to school, get a good job, do what you have to do.' I played by the rules and followed their great advice.

But once I decided to just try not working for other people and work for myself, I had to put every energy forward. It’s scary at times, once you let go of that fear of the unknown.




[caption id="attachment_1222" align="alignleft" width="210" caption="photo credit: Amy Rollo/ Honey magazine"][/caption]

Why Violette? :



 


I've been a tomboy my whole life.  The majority of my life I've been wearing men’s clothes, jeans, t-shirts. I never found a female brand that incorporated my style for a girl – a kind of masculine and tomboyish style. I still don’t find a voice for myself in that. I definitely want to have clothes that I can wear. I realised that other people may want to have that option.


 On bringing West Indian flavour to bear in her designs:


 As far as the designing side, I like to take a lot from my roots and put that there. For my line next season I am going to do a line of t-shirts that are going to have a focus on West Indian pride – a lot of influences from all the different islands.

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ISLANDISTA EXCLUSIVE: Vashtie Kola speaks for herself

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https://nickiminaj-tdr.blogspot.com/2009/07/islandista-exclusive-vashtie-kola.html

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Trini Carnival - a look forward and a look back

Even though we're in the midst of the summer Carnival season, things are already heating up for Trinidad Carnival 2010.

Talk is already flying about what plans the various mas bands in TnT have in store for 2010 and two top Trinidadian mas bands - Spice and Carnival Tribe, are set to hold their band launches this month on July 19th and 25th respectively.

In fact, Spice has already given us all a sneak peek of their 2010 presentation, The Spice Route, when they held their media launch two weeks ago.

They displayed the front line costumes of two sections - the Caspian Sea and Rubies of Mumbai and they are bee-yoo-tee-ful!

I especially like the Rubies of Mumbai (below). The tear-drop shaped red gems dripping off the waist piece and the sari like material for the shoulders - fantastic!



[caption id="attachment_1201" align="aligncenter" width="292" caption="photo credit: Joel Angelo/Triniscene.com"][/caption]



 

[caption id="attachment_1202" align="aligncenter" width="292" caption="photo credit: Joel Angelo/Triniscene.com"][/caption]

Spice's Eastern theme is one that seems to be quite popular for Trini Carnival '10. Tribe is going with 'The Secret of Silk' - a slight change up from what was rumoured to be the original name - The Silk Road.



On top of that, Island People's presentation for next year is rumoured to be called Kuchela while Legacy's presentation is Masala.

So it gine be bare bindis and mehendi in your curry la la for Carnival 2010. Honestly, I'm excited. There is something about Eastern inspirations that really bring out the beauty in a Carnival costume. The rich colours and jewelling, not to mention all the extra fun you can have with accessorising!

We're also feeling an early, early Carnival spirit because of a photo spread in the last ever Vibe magazine - the June/July 2009 issue that has turned out to be their last.

They did a fashion spread based on and at Trinidad Carnival 09, featuring the ubiquitous Ms. Trinidad Universe 09 Anya Ayoung-Chee and Trinbagonian model Kenywn Millington.

The pics are great. It is a mix of fashion and Carnival revelery with shocks of colour and plenty bacchanal. Take a look at some of the pics below.

[caption id="attachment_1203" align="aligncenter" width="347" caption="photo credit: Mischa Richter for Vibe.com"][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_1204" align="aligncenter" width="360" caption="photo credit: Mischa Richter"][/caption]

 

[caption id="attachment_1205" align="aligncenter" width="360" caption="photo credit: Mischa Richter"][/caption]

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Trini Carnival - a look forward and a look back

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