Calling All Stars
From the gilded hemlines of Machel Sandy’s crimson design to the minimalistic, Grecian-inspired Rebecca Stirm design, the Caribbean’s premier reality fashion design competition Mission Catwalk gears up for a fifth season dubbed the High Fashion Edition, set to premiere on Saturday, September 26 at 8:30 pm on TVJ. AW Fashion introduces the All-Star cast.
Alexis Campbell, Barbados
Season: 3
Instagram/Twitter: @alexiscampbell246/@AlexisDCampbell
With a structured-yet-chic aesthetic and a 19th century glamour, Bajan fashion designer Alexis Campbell ably secured her spot on Mission Catwalk Season 4. Alexis has been designing for over four years and holds a first degree in Fashion Design from Barbados Community College.
Andre Shirley, Jamaica
Season: 1
Instagram/Twitter: @andreshirley876/@AndreShirley
Andre Shirley is from Passmore Town in Kingston, Jamaica, and was one of the top five designers on season one of Mission Catwalk. Shirley aims to change the face of fashion in Jamaica with Anarchy Design — consisting of stylish apparel for men and women. His fabric choices, matched with attention to detail, and his willingness to go against the status quo prove his standing in the local fashion industry.
Ayanna Dixon, Jamaica
Season: 1
Instagram/Twitter: @by.asd/@AyannaASD
From the Edna Manley College of the Visual and Performing Arts to The Art Institute of New York, Ayanna Dixon has been on the up and up since returning home to begin a career in fashion design. She may be most recognised for the byASD brand, which features a ready-to-wear women’s line, as well as lifestyle products with the byASD imprint. Dixon placed second on the first staging of Mission Catwalk, and since then her efforts have afforded her a showcase at Miami Beach International Fashion Week, a First Global MoDA Fashion Grant, and the opportunity to represent Jamaica at the International Fashion Showcase in London.
Carl Swaby, Jamaica
Season: 4
Twitter: @Carl_Sway_Dsgz
Carl Swaby is a self-taught Jamaican fashion designer from Kingston, Jamaica, with a career that spans 15 years. Swaby’s specialty? Bold and edgy Dancehall designs making him a go-to designer for local celebrities. Swaby continues to build his brand by producing outstanding designs. Swaby’s Mission Catwalk debut was season four, where he finished in the top five.
Carla Gittens, Barbados
Season: 4
Twitter/Instagram: @carloribyc/@bycarlori
The self-assured Carla “Carlori” Gittens placed second on the show’s fourth season. Her designing career started in 2009 while pursuing her BSc in Marketing and Management at UWI, Mona. Gittens’ concept centres around a risqué-meets-urban chic aesthetic, and believes “the best way to stay ahead of the competition is to practise and truly hone your skills”. Gittens’ sole goal for 2015 is to ensure that every ByCarlori piece is always #OnFleek.
David Rolle, Bahamas
Season: 3
Instagram/Twitter: @iamdavidrolle/@disislandboy
David Rolle left season three as the first runner-up. His debut collection in 2013 awarded him a spot at Parsons, The New School for Design in New York City. Since then, his designs have been showcased around the world. He is an award-winning clothing, accessory and handbag designer, a celebrated fashion and bridal stylist, recently adding carnival icon to his dossier, as the group he designed for dominated the inaugural Bahamas Junkanoo Carnival.
Kesia Estwick, Barbados
Season: 2
Instagram: @kingkesia
Music is her muse. Bajan-born-and-bred designer Kesia Estwick — who left season two in the top seven — has been producing pieces she describes as “elegantly edgy” for over six years. Though she’s not yet a household name, Estwick has presented at a number of regional and international shows, including LA Fashion Week, St. Lucia Jazz & Arts Festival, as well as creating pieces for Britain’s and Ireland’s Next Top Model. If you ask her, hearing her name on the most prestigious red carpets around the world is the ultimate achievement.
Machel Sandy, Trinidad and Tobago
Season: 4
Instagram/Twitter: @machelsandy
Machel Sandy became aware of his talents from a tender age. The season four semifinalist grew up with his mother, a seamstress, who taught him much of what he knows today. Machel took the initiative to maximise and explore these skills, and began his journey to transform men and women into fashionistas. Quite like his idol Roberto Cavalli, Sandy believes fashion is woven into his DNA.
Rebecca Stirm, Belize
Season: 2
Instagram/Twitter: @rebeccastirm
A minimalist approach and tailoring skills — which take on a third dimension with focus on bridal wear, loungewear, and separates — prove exceptional for season two’s third-place finalist Rebecca Stirm, who studied design and fashion business at the Art Institute of Vancouver and London College of Fashion. Stirm prides herself on her attention to detail, and her work in developing the local design and manufacturing industry in Belize.
Renardo Lloyd, Jamaica
Season: 3
Instagram/Twitter: @renoydesigns
Season three’s third-place winner and Jamaican-born Renardo Lloyd is a local designer on the rise with dreams as sophisticated and elaborate as his polished finishes. Lloyd’s foremost aspiration? To establish a garment factory, where his designs will be produced and distributed throughout the Caribbean and the world. He is the 2012 winner of the Jamaica50 Avant-garde design competition and aims to conquer the fashion industry on a wide scale.
Ryan Chan, Trinidad and Tobago
Season: 2
Instagram: @rychan_
Self-taught jewellery and fashion designer Ryan Chan caters to the edgy, punkrock set. Chan has been designing for over 15 years and pulls inspiration from music and nature. Chan designs for international pageants, as well as costume design for Carnival bands in Trinidad & Tobago, Miami, and The Cayman Islands. He made it to the top three of season two of Mission Catwalk.
Shenna Carby, Jamaica
Season: 1
Instagram: @shennacarby
Shenna Carby hails from Denham Town, Kingston, Jamaica — the heart and soul of her inspirations as an aspiring fashion designer. Carby ruled the catwalk when she was named the winner of Mission Catwalk’s season premiere in 2011. Carby is an eccentric creative designer with an infectious personality. Her passion for fashion refelects a bold and out-of-the-box disposition. Her initial interaction with fashion design began at Garmex HEART Academy, which kick-started her career over seven years ago.
