The work of London-based Caymanian Jawara Alleyne has caught the eye of Barbadian singer, actress and fashion icon Rihanna, who has declared him as her “new favourite designer”.
The 36-year-old celebrity, known for her unique, daring sense of style, in an article published in the 2024 spring issue of Interview Magazine, ‘Rihanna is ready to confess’, noted the top she was wearing was created by Alleyne, saying, “This is by Jawara Alleyne, who’s my new favourite designer because I am struggling with tops.”
“I was shocked,” Alleyne told the Compass, following the shout-out by the celebrity. “Having someone of this calibre mention the brand in such an organic way is such a huge deal, and having that person being Rihanna is even a bigger deal.”
It’s not the first time Rihanna has touted the creative designs of Alleyne. She was recently spotted across her social media platform of 152 million followers wearing a pink linen top and silk skirt outfit from Alleyne’s first live stand-alone runway show collection, ‘SS24 Beach Business’, showcased during London Fashion Week in September 2023.
The fashion mogul was also seen wearing a blue jersey from Alleyne’s SS24 collection while on vacation in Turks and Caicos.
Alleyne, who was born in Jamaica, and raised and educated in Cayman, has been designing since he was 16 and received numerous accolades in the fashion industry.
A full-circle moment
“Coming from the Caribbean, Rihanna is someone that I’ve always looked up to as a hallmark of success,” he said.
The multi-disciplinary artist added, “I always appreciated seeing someone who comes from a small island like myself, break boundaries and achieve their version of success. To have her not only buy into the work I create but also label me as her current favourite designer feels like a full-circle moment where the vision finally becomes clear.”
He added, “It proves that charting my own path was the right thing to do. I’ve worked so hard and dedicated so much of the last few years establishing a creative direction and a point of view that would speak to an idea of Caribbean identity that I feel doesn’t exist and to have her appreciate that vision to me is success.”
Along with Rihanna, Alleyne’s designed have captured the eye of other global icons including Beyonce, Bella Hadid and FKA Twigs, and have been featured in a number of publications such as Elle, Vogue, Harper’s Bazaar, and Hypebeast.
When it comes to having Caribbean representation and diversity in the fashion industry, Alleyne said, “It’s so important.”
“What it shows is that for anyone who comes from backgrounds like mine, from the Caribbean, you get to see a real life example of what hard work looks like… Having her appreciating and valuing the work that I do, in a way that seems quite genuine and it’s not just a stylist putting these garments on her, but it’s something that she actually feels, and cares for and about, for me, I think is extremely important.”
Related Videos
