””Garments worn in the Caribbean islands are reminiscent of the beauty of life there. The clothes represent the tropical environment in which everything stands proud in its existence.
DANIELLA DAVIS
DANIELLA DAVIS, CARIBBEAN STYLE & CULTURE 2020
“MODEL OF THE YEAR”
“She is gorgeous, when can she arrive in NY? asked one of the world’s top model managers, Michele Pryor, Pryor was quick to sign Davis, in fact she did so immediately upon seeing her digital photos.
A new SuperModel is on the rise and taking the international scene like a storm, Jamaican born Daniella Davis was discovered in the Pulse Caribbean Model Search, she is now signed to Women Model Management, one of the world’s leading model networks, which also represents Pulse supermodel Alicia Burke.
Daniella flew to the Big Apple to start her international career. “Everything is going very well. I have started preparing for my castings and go sees and I am looking forward to all that’s ahead,” said the excited new face on the block. Already creating a stir among some of New York’s finest clients.
Photographer Hao Zeng introduces us to this gorgeous trio Ari Mann, Daniella Davis and Mabel Terry in this Schön! online editorial.
CSC 2020 DESIGNERS – First Segment
#culturallyinspired
KARIB STYLE FASHION WEEK DC starts Thursday June 18th thru Sunday June 21st. One of the most important things in the Caribbean fashion industry is that there are always new designers bringing fresh ideas and incentives to the industry. The big fashion brands and names stay in place forever but even they are impacted upon by the new ideas and styles that come from the ground up. This is why the mark of any international fashion scene can be judged by the emerging designers who are creating waves and grabbing attention. This is one area where the Caribbean fashion industry can be seen to be on the rise because there is an environment that favors rapid growth and development of new talent looking to make their way to prominence. This is the First Segment, a list of six of twenty designers showcasing their collections.
The CLOTH – by Robert Young
SHAKAD ECO LIFESTYLE – by Shanika Burnett
THALASSA BEACHWEAR by Arielle & Alyssa Persad
HOUSE OF PEARSON by Quinton Pearson
BIJOU LAKAY by Daphnee Floreal
ASD by Ayanna Dixon
MODEL OF THE MONTH DECEMBER 2023
In 2021 she launched her makeup line called Jenna-Monet Beauty, a cosmetics line that is determined to enhance your natural beauty. Jenna-Monet wanted a cosmetics line that is safe,
inclusive, and inspired the upcoming generation, that although we emanate from small islands, that are big dreams aren’t.
inevitable and can be attained.
CARIBBEAN STYLE & CULTURE MODEL OF THE MONTH
“Miriam believes in the power of fashion to unite cultures, celebrate individuality, and tell stories that resonate with individuals from all walks of life.”
BLACK HISTORY MONTH
ITALIAN HAITIAN FASHION DESIGNER
Stella Jean is an Italian Haitian designer, born and working in Rome. Jean grew up in a multicultural family, where art, fashion, and beauty were part of her daily life. Inspired by her elegant Haitian mother, her father is a Turin artist, who designs and creates high-end jewelry. Working first as a model for Egon Von Fürstenberg, Jean soon discovered her creative calling and has been creating her own designs since July 2011, when she won the Who’s On Next contest.
Debuting her own collection during Milan’s Fashion Week, Jean produced a sophisticated show in collaboration with the cutting-edge fashion trade show – White, in the beautiful location of the Rotunda Della Besana, Milan.
Stella Jean received an early endorsement from Giorgio Armani, who shared his show space and communications team with her in September 2013. With Italian and Haitian heritage, her work merges classical Italian tailoring with styles from other cultures.
She is a member of the Italian Chamber of Fashion and the only member of Afro-European background.
In an industry with a long-standing history of racial exclusivism and harsh environmental impact, Stella Jean has dared to challenge the status quo.
This fearless designer’s desire to represent her Haitian roots in a predominantly Eurocentric industry gave birth to the Stella Jean fashion brand. For Stella, otherwise known as Giorgio Armani’s protegee, fashion is not about appealing to high society and manipulating human beauty for financial gain. Rather, fashion is about showcasing the contributions and creativity of marginalized Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) based on ecological practices. As such, a major principle of Stella’s company is ‘sustainability.’
The company’s slogan, “Multiculturalism Applied to Ethical Fashion,’ perfectly embodies everything Stella stands for. Multiculturalism is invalid if, in the longshot, vulnerable BIPOC communities are still being harmed. The use of multiculturalism for aesthetics easily treads the line of cultural appropriation. Stella, in contrast, ensures that her designs are created in a way that shields BIPOC communities in developing countries from exploitation and evades environmental degradation.
The self-taught designer was not always behind the runway. Stella Jean’s career began on the runway when she dropped out of the Sapienza University of Rome to model for Egon von Furstenberg. Soon after she realized that her calling was to create beautiful clothes rather than wear them. Stella then entered Vogue Italia’s “Who Is On Next” in 2011 where she won second place after having her applications denied two years in a row.
Despite winning second place, her early years as a designer were not easy. Fashion designer Giorgio Armani was in fact one of the first people to acknowledge her skill in 2013. She was given the opportunity to showcase her designs in the Armani/Teatro space during Milano Moda Donna for Fashion Week Spring/Summer 2014. This opportunity also saw the birth of Stella’s passion for ethical fashion as she collaborated with the International Trade Centre’s Ethical Fashion Initiative in the sourcing and merging of fabrics.
Stella Jean is undoubtedly an immense source of Caribbean pride. Though she may be Italian by nationality, her Haitian roots by way of her mother, are stronger than any trace of European genetics built into her cells. Her decision to use her mother’s maiden name for her brand in place of her surname ‘Novarino’ was done to represent her Caribbean heritage.
The model turned fashion designer has carved her own path in the Italian fashion industry and if you don’t think she’s unstoppable now, you will have no qualms about it when you hear headlines of her being ‘The first black woman to…’ or ‘The first woman of Haitian heritage to…’
MODEL OF THE MONTH, DECEMBER 2022
LATISHA A. WALLACE – DECEMBER 2022
As part of our continued efforts to highlight the valuable work of Caribbean Fashion Designers, Models, and Makeup Artists and their contribution to the development of the Caribbean Fashion Industry. Karib Nation, Inc. will showcase Up and coming and established candidates monthly.
CSC MAKE-UP ARTIST OF THE MONTH
PAULA MONIQUE – DECEMBER 2022
As part of our continued efforts to highlight the valuable work of Caribbean Fashion Designers, Models, and Makeup Artists and their contribution to the development of the Caribbean Fashion Industry. Karib Nation, Inc. will showcase Up and coming and established candidates monthly.
Paula Monique is the business owner of Paula Monique Makeup Artistry. She is a talented makeup artist from the lovely island of Barbados, with the gifted ability to enhance the natural features of her client. Paula honed her love for makeup artistry at the Canadian-based institute QC Makeup Academy, where she was professionally trained by Celebrity Makeup Artiste, Nathan Johnson.
Clean, classic beauty is her trademark making her ideal for bridal makeup and editorial shoots. Paula has worked behind the scenes for Kingdom Arts Fashion Show, a music video with regionally known jazz singer Kellie Cadogan and has created the “Luscious Lips” Lip Care Line. The Line was launched in 2022, with its first all-natural Essential Orange Lip Balm. Essential Orange has no added colors or fragrances and is perfect for that individual seeking natural lip nourishment. Paula developed the balm with makeup artists in mind, as it was formulated not to be oily and is great for priming the lips while avoiding slippage upon lipstick application.
Working in makeup artistry for the past five years, Paula continuously seeks to develop her skills, always serving her brides and clientele with humility and professionalism. Currently based in Barbados, Paula Monique can be contacted via Instagram @pm.artistry or the website www.pmartistry.net.
Photographer: Joel Brooks @joelbrookslightlab1
MAKE-UP ARTIST OF THE MONTH
CSC NOVEMBER 2022
DESIGNER OF THE MONTH
As part of our continued efforts to highlight the valuable work of Caribbean Fashion Designers, Models, and Makeup Artists and their contribution to the development of the Caribbean Fashion Industry. Karib Nation, Inc. will showcase Up and coming and established candidates monthly.
DESIGNER OF THE MONTH OCTOBER 2022
CSC MODEL OF THE MONTH
OCTOBER 2022
FRANCINE JAMES
FRANCINE JAMES, one of the Caribbean’s top modeling stars from Pulse, is a former Camperdown High School student who was discovered in the Pulse Caribbean Model Search. The stunning beauty, who hails from Manley Meadows in Kingston, has landed major campaigns over the past few years for Bobbi Brown, Tory Birch, Esprit, and Nars Cosmetics.
She has done significant work for a host of European brands in Sweden and Denmark. A new slate of work is set to be released as Francine continues to excel in the international market, especially in the upcoming editorial for Mexican Vogue.
“Francine has a certain presence and command of the camera that makes it easy for editors to make the call for a cover appearance,” says her New York agent, Kady Davies of Women Management.
Her work for Volatile shows off another of James’ strong modeling assets, her flawless complexion.
James began her cover girl duties before she left Jamaica to pursue international modeling when she appeared on the cover of Suitcase magazine, a British travel and fashion glossy.
Covers for Britain’s Luxury retailer John Lewis ‘Edition’ as well as the Swiss edition of L’Officiel magazine would follow. A slew of high-fashion editorials for Elle, Cosmopolitan, In-Style, Modern Luxury, Marie Claire, and Glamour have taken James to all parts of the globe in pre-pandemic times.
She also had appearances for the coveted Vogue magazine – the Spanish and German editions.
Her work for Volatile shows off another of James’ strong modeling assets, her flawless complexion. James began her cover girl duties before she left Jamaica to pursue international modeling when she appeared on the cover of Suitcase magazine, a British travel and fashion glossy.
Covers for Britain’s Luxury retailer John Lewis ‘Edition’ as well as the Swiss edition of L’Officiel magazine would follow. A slew of high-fashion editorials for Elle, Cosmopolitan, In-Style, Modern Luxury, Marie Claire, and Glamour have taken James to all parts of the globe in pre-pandemic times.
She also had appearances for the coveted Vogue magazine – the Spanish and German editions.
KARIB NATION, Inc. 