Ceylon Wallace, a third-year student at Central Saint Martins University in London, has successfully completed a three-month internship with the Jamaica Business Development Corporation (JBDC). The result: A collection called Soursop.

The goal of the internship was twofold: To create a unique, wearable line of clothing targeting bold creatives, and to introduce a line of fabric that would inspire interior decorators to complement the taste of this discerning group.

During her internship, Wallace worked closely with JBDC-based fashion expert and Edna Manley College lecturer Robert Hall to create a capsule collection as well as hand-printed fabrics using the traditional Nigerian Adire batik method. She incorporated a fresh approach to a historical technique originally facilitated by Alao Omotayo Luqman, a textiles expert who came to Jamaica as a cultural diplomat with the Nigerian Embassy and who currently teaches same at the Edna Manley College.

Wallace’s capsule collection, dubbed Soursop, showcases her creativity, skill, and dedication to sustainable fashion practices with multi-functional designs that can be worn as separates or as a complete outfit. The collection also features beautifully adorned scarves designed in collaboration with @44milesjewellery by Courtney Morris, who was recently awarded Best Jewellery Designer at the Coffee and Craft Awards also sponsored by JBDC.

The internship was facilitated by Colin Porter, technical services manager at JBDC, and David Harrison, director of the Incubator & Resource Centre. “We were impressed by Ceylon Wallace’s passion for fashion and her willingness to learn and adapt to new techniques… This capsule collection is a testament to her talent and creativity,” shared Porter.

Wallace’s educational journey began at Harding Hall Prep School, Hanover, before migrating to the UK to attend secondary school at Midhurst Rother College in West Sussex, where she became head girl in her final year. A foundation year in Bournemouth followed, earning a coveted spot at the prestigious Central Saint Martins, where she currently specialises in Fashion Print.

“Ceylon’s achievement is a shining example of the talent and potential that exists in Jamaica,” opined Harrison. “We are proud to have played a role in her development and look forward to seeing her continued success in the fashion industry.”

Wallace, for her part, expressed gratitude for the opportunity to work with the JBDC team. “This internship has been an incredible experience, and I’m so thankful to have had the chance to work with such a talented and supportive team. I’ve learned so much about the fashion industry, sustainable practices, and in particular, Jamaican culture.

“The internship also allowed her to spend an extended period in Jamaica (the longest since leaving at age 11), reconnect with her roots, and the island’s ballooning creative industry.

The Jamaica Business Development Corporation is a government agency dedicated to supporting the development of micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises locally. Its fashion programme aims to promote and develop the fashion industry, providing training, mentorship, and resources to emerging designers.

From the designer…

The symbols come from sketches I’ve done throughout my travels. They are inspired by motifs I’ve seen in architecture from Morroco to New York to Jamaica. For this collection, I was especially interested in the design of the breeze blocks we have in Jamaica. These functional architectural elements were still made to look beautiful and the repeat print they create influenced the composition of my textiles designs.

All fabrics were done in batik and hand-dyed by me… final pieces were sewn by Sandra Hardy, seamstress at the H.E.A.R.T. Garment facility on Marcus Garvey Drive.

Items from the Soursop Collection will be available exclusively at Callaloo Butik in Treasure Beach.

CREDITS

Photography: Ceylon Wallace

Location: Orange Street, & Waterfront, downtown Kington

Stylist: Kadeem Rodgers

Models: Chennai Wallace, Xenya Miller Brown

Model Chennai Wallace wears batik skirt in crushed cotton with 100 per cent cotton hand-dyed overlay, worn over longer batik skirt and paired with denim hand-painted corset worn over hand-dyed long-sleeve smock-style top. 100 per cent cotton batik scarf, with 44 Miles Jewellery worn as a belt.

Model Xenya Miller Brown wearing cuffed denim culottes with twist top in crushed cotton done in batik. The culottes are worn with hand-dyed crushed cotton scarf. 44 Miles jewellery-embellished 100 per cent cotton scarf fashioned as a headpiece. (Ceylon Wallace)

The Soursop Collection featuring models Xenya Miller Brown (foreground) and Chennai Wallace.

It’s all in the details! Designer Ceylon Wallace installed grommets by hand to the scarf, then added handmade aluminum jewellery made by Courtney Morris for the Black River-based 44 Miles Jewellery company.

Model Xenya Miller Brown wears two 100 per cent cotton scarves — one as a headpiece, and the other as a top — with 44 Miles jewellery attached. Ceylon utilised the Adire batik process, which involves carving foam blocks with the designs and using wax to preserve colours at each stage of dyeing.

Model Chennai Wallace wearing cotton scarf adorned with 44 Miles Jewellery.

Model Chennai Wallace wearing 100 per cent cotton scarf as a headpiece, with 44 Miles Jewellery attached, paired with a twist batik crushed cotton top

Model Chennai Wallace wears a batik skirt in crushed cotton with cotton hand-dyed overlay worn as a top, and batik scarf sarong in rayon.

Designer Ceylon Wallace (right) was joined by (from left) attorney-at-law Vivette Miller, stylist Kadeem Rodgers, and models Chennai Wallace, and Xenya Miller Brown for a post-shoot photo op.