Style Observer (SO): What prompted your career choice to pursue fashion designing?

Kurt Campbell (KC): Fashion designing is my calling. It is innate because I have always been fashion conscious from a very young age. My earliest memory includes seeing my mother dressing up every day in very sophisticated and classy apparel especially whenever she is attending church.

Who are your fashion designer inspirations?

My fashion designer inspirations are Raf Simons, Tom Ford and Alexander McQueen because they always seek to present unusual points of view. I dare to be different and bold in my designs, and these designers encourage me through their work to explore the limits of my creativity.

What do you hope to accomplish as a designer within the next year to ten years?

I hope to be a household name in the fashion industry both locally and internationally over the next one to ten years. My intention is to design signature pieces for celebrities and to see them wearing them with style and grace on the red carpet at the Golden Globes, the Oscars, Cannes. I want to be a very successful fashion designer in 10 years.

Where do you seek inspiration to come up with your creations?

My inspiration comes from my daily interaction with my Jamaican people. The vibrant spirit of our people and our affinity for colours stimulate me constantly to develop new ideas and fashion creations.

Share your thoughts on the fashion industry in Jamaica. Do you believe it’s a fertile ground for upcoming designers like yourself to develop lasting meaningful careers?

I think that our fashion industry has a lot of potential and has allowed for the participation of new and upcoming designers. However I do believe that there are not enough designers who seek to lead and influence the industry because there is a tendency to follow the international scene. For example, many local Spring/Summer of 2014 collections tend to reflect the international Spring/Summer collections of 2013.

I consider it very difficult for young designers like myself to develop long and sustainable careers in Jamaica. The economic climate is not friendly towards entrepreneurs like fashion designers as it requires capital investment and clients who are willing to pay for the value of a designer’s creative efforts.

Which local or international celebrity would you like to dress?

Locally, I would love to dress Yendi Phillips because of her elegance and infectious personality and my creations are usually bold, bubbly, and hopefully flutters the heart. She clearly loves to dress up and is a poignant reminder of my childhood when I always saw my mother so well dressed for every occasion.

Internationally, I would like to dress U. S. President Barack Obama. I would like to create a tailored suit that would not diminish the importance of his position and power but would also reflect the hope that he represents for the world.