Designer and stylist to several entertainers and personalities, Troy Oraine, has relocated his Tribe Nine Studios to the heart of downtown Kingston.

Situated inside the F&B Downtown Building on Harbour Street, Tribe Nine Studios which came into existence in 2018, aims to become the Jamaican brand that is internationally reaching.

“Tribe Nine is like a mirror that represents who we actually are. To show how important we are, how we’re revered internationally. We want to be the Jamaican brand that is internationally reaching,” Oraine disclosed in an interview with OBSERVER ONLINE on Thursday night at the launch of his latest collection, 7 Mile.

7 Mile, he says, was inspired by the stretch of beach in Negril referred to as 7 Mile.

“My collection is very chilled, very relaxed, very flowing. It was inspired by the 7 mile beach in Negril, with nice light fabric. I’m just pushing the envelope a little bit more,” said Oraine.

The designer and stylist says his operation started out in Kingston Gardens before he relocated uptown. And now, the decision to move back downtown was driven by the need for a larger space among other reasons.

“We started out in Kingston Gardens so now we went uptown and I kinda felt it was a bit restricted, so I came back downtown to see what can actually happen down here. I grew up in Denham Town, which is just a stone’s throw away, and I wanted a bigger space to kind of actualize what Tribe Nine is,” Oraine shared.

He added, “My whole idea of moving the studio down here is to show Jamaica that there is one Jamaica. We kinda have this uptown downtown thing in Kingston predominantly, and we just need to understand that no one is different from anyone. I think that we’re the only people who don’t utilize downtown as a city, and I wanted to be a part of that.”

According to the designer, downtown Kingston has been a major influence on his designs.

“Downtown is like the most inspirational thing ever in Jamaica to me. It’s where you see real expressions and I think Tribe Nine is all about expressions, it’s all about personal style. I’m a stylist and I’m always down here buying stuff for artistes. So seeing the real representation of style instead of just fashion and brands, that’s what inspires me. Downtown gives me that lift that I need in terms of creativity.”

Recording artistes Koffee, Popcaan, Jesse Royal, Beenie Man, Naomi Cowan, Tessellated, Amanyea, Ras-I and D’Yani are among those who have worn his designs.

D’Yani, he says, has become his muse. He designed the outfit that the singer wore at the recent staging of Reggae Sumfest in Montego Bay.

“He (D’Yani) has this aura of superstardom. Artistes like D’Yani inspire me to create for him. Style and music are very important to him. He’s like my little muse and he sees greater than Jamaica,” said Troy Oraine.