12 TALENTED NYC BASED CARIBBEAN FACES IN FASHION
The Caribbean fashion industry is rich in talent, with a myriad of designers, stylists, and creative directors making their mark. In the heart of New York City's bustling fashion scene, a vibrant tapestry of culture and creativity comes to life through the designs of many extraordinary Caribbean fashion maestros. These designers, hailing from the sun-kissed islands of the Caribbean, bring a kaleidoscope of colors, textures, and stories to the runways and boutiques of the Big Apple. Get ready to be immersed in a world where heritage meets haute couture, and discover the visionaries shaping the future of fashion in the city that never sleeps.
1.JUNE AMBROSE (Heritage: Antigua)
June Ambrose is an award-winning creative director, costume designer, and entrepreneur. Her expertise has made her an in-demand creative director, host, and tastemaker, working with brands like GUCCI, Estee Lauder, Target, Levi’s, and most recently, Puma, where she is a creative director and designer. Through her vision, June has been able to extend style past a singular moment, to a moment of culture-defining significance. June has broken boundaries, created access for emerging creatives, challenged the status quo, and continues to do so today.
Website: https://www.juneambrose.com/
Social: @juneambrose
2. DREU BECKEMBERG (Heritage: Jamaica)
Dreu Beckemberg is the Founder and Creative Director of Dreu Beckemberg - a fashion brand that specializes in made to measure clothing.
Website: https://www.dreubeckemberg.com/
Social: @dreubeckemberg
3. BRANDON BLACKWOOD (Heritage: Jamaica)
Brandon Blackwood is an American fashion designer and businessman of Jamaican and Chinese descent. He is the CEO and founder of Brandon Blackwood New York, a fashion company that specializes in handbags and accessories. He was born in Brooklyn, New York spent most of his upbringing between New York City and Tokyo. He developed an affinity for fashion and design at a young age, and made hand-sewn bags as gifts for his friends in middle and high school. He launched his first line of handbags in 2015 which were featured in Essence magazine, followed by Elle and Galore. Blackwood gained international notoriety in 2020 after wanting to take a stance in support of the Black Lives Matter protests and creating a mini-tote with the words End Systemic Racism engraved on the front.
Website: https://brandonblackwood.com/
Soical: @brandonblackwoodnyc
4. FELISHA NOEL (Heritage: Grenada)
Deeply influenced by her Grenadian heritage and close-knit family, designer Felisha “Fe” Noel infuses her designs with the underlying philosophy to “Make Life Beautiful”.
Website: https://fenoel.com/
Social: @feonel @feism
5. TERESE BROWN (Heritage: Jamaica)
Terese Brown is a fashion-forward creative director with a savvy entrepreneurial spirit. Owner and designer of Terese Sydonna, she holds a decade of self-starter experience who demonstrates agility and ability to create and discover the next "must-have" item.
Website: https://www.teresesydonna.com/
Social: @teresesydonna @teresesbrown
6. KERBY JEAN RAYMOND (Heritage: Haiti)
Kerby Jean-Raymond is the founder and creative director of New York-based label Pyer Moss. The Haitian-American designer went to the High School of Fashion Industries in New York between 2000 and 2004, and interned at Marchesa and Theory, before attending Hofstra University. He graduated with a BA in business administration in 2008. Jean-Raymond also went to Brooklyn Law School but dropped out after a semester. Jean-Raymond began his design career freelancing for the likes of Theory, Marc Jacobs , Badgley Mischka and Kenneth Cole before founding Pyer Moss in 2013. The brand came into prominence during the Spring/Summer 2016 season, when its show highlighted police brutality, referencing the Black Lives Matter movement through use of video, street art and fashion. In 2018, the label collaborated on a collection with Reebok named Reebok by Pyer Moss as part of its newly announced partnership with the footwear giant. Jean-Raymond was named global creative director of Reebok in September 2020, expanding his four-year relationship with the brand.
Website: https://www.pyermoss.com/
Social: @pyermoss
7. SAMANTHA BLACK (Heritage: Jamaica)
A fashion designer with a New York state of mind. Samantha Black got her start working for designers like Michael Kors and Jill Stuart before designing her own collection, SammyB. Highlighting a mix of vibrant prints and bold colors, her collection is a love letter to The City. She studied fashion design at Pratt Institute in Brooklyn, New York. To date, celebrities like Beyonce and Gabrielle Union have worn her designs.
Website: https://sammybdesigns.com/
Social: @samanthablacknyc @sammybdesigns
8. EDVIN THOMPSON (Heritage: Jamaica)
Since starting his label in 2016, Edvin Thompson has attracted attention for his show-stopping designs inspired by his unique global perspective. Born in Kingston, Thompson moved to America at age 9, living in New Jersey and later Atlanta, Georgia. Today, the Brooklyn-based designer continues to celebrate his Jamaican heritage by infusing his cultural background into his collection.
Website: https://theophilio.com/
Social: @edvinthompson @theophilio
9. RAUL LOPEZ (Heritage: Dominican Republic)
LUAR is the reversed namesake label of Dominican American Brooklyn-based designer Raul Lopez, the former co-founder of Hood By Air. Lopez began to design at the age of 12 and growing up was inspired by the fluidity of the downtown New York scene. The philosophy of LUAR lies in the intersection of New York City and the Dominican Republic, promoting the constant curiosity of tomorrow. LUAR has been worn and supported by the likes of Bella Hadid, Bad bunny, Dua Lipa, Shawn Mendes, Lourdes Leon, Arca, Christina Aguilera, Future, Kylie Jenner, Kendrick Lamar, Rihanna, Solange Knowles, Tyga, Theophilus London, and more. In 2018, the designer was a finalist for the CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund.
Website: https://www.luar.world/
Social: @raulzepol @luar
10. ANDREA PITTER-CAMPBELL (Heritage: Jamaica)
Andrea Pitter is a Jamaican American fashion designer and the founder of Pantora Bridal. Pitter was raised in Crown Heights neighbourhood of Brooklyn by Jamaican immigrant parents.She studied at the High School of Fashion Industries and a graduate of the Fashion Institute of Technology. Pitter launched Pantora Bridal in 2009. As a bridal designer she is known for inclusive design that focuses on Black women and those traditionally excluded from the wedding industry. Pitter won the second season of Making the Cut. The win included a three-year lease of a storefront at the ROW DTLA. She used the appearance on the show to expand a ready-to-wear line of Pantora.
Website: https://www.andreapitter.com/
Social: @andreapittercampbell @pantorabridal
11. CARLY CUSHNIE (Heritage: Jamaica)
Carly Cushnie is a New York-based Creative Director & Fashion Designer. Originally from London, Cushnie attended Parsons School of Design in both Paris and New York, where she received her BA in Fashion Design. Best known for her luxury women’s Ready-to-Wear collection CUSHNIE, her artful tailoring, and her feminine drapery became a celebrity favorite worn by many influential women including Michelle Obama, Beyoncé, Zendaya, Ava Duvernay, Rihanna, and Ashley Graham. Cushnie has achieved numerous accolades including, the winner of the Ecco Domani Award (2009); a finalist for the CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund (2011); Forbes 30 under 30 (2017); and the first black female nominee for the CFDA Swarovski Award (2013). In 2019 Carly Cushnie was appointed to the CFDA Board of Directors.
Website: https://www.carlycushnie.com/
Social: @carlycushnie
12. RODNEY EPPERSON (Heritage: Jamaica)
Rodney Epperson prides himself on being a self-taught designer. When he got his first full collection together, it was picked up by Charivari, a New York City clothing store that was famous for bringing European designers like Azzedine Alaïa, Giorgio Armani, and Jean Paul Gaultier to America. He later switched to a more made-to-order custom model for his business that found him success. After years of doing custom designs, he’s amassed quite the clientele list including superstars like Erykah Badu, Alicia Keys, and Patti Label, and his customers range from teenager to seventy-five-year-olds. He currently services a private clientele and operates a developing wholesale business.
Website: https://www.eppersonstudio.com/
Social: @epperson
This list above represents the best and brightest in the fashion business. Don’t forget to follow, share and shop these designers.