Toppa Top 10: Ten Caribbean Menswear Designers To Know Right Now

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October 10, 2016


Stella Jean (Haiti/Italy)

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Few can master the art of both men’s and womenswear, but Stella Jean, a designer of Haitian and Italian heritage, makes it look easy. Jean believes that fashion can move beyond aesthetics and superficiality, and she has been using her label as an instrument to fight colonization and promote “economic, social, and ethical growth and enfranchisement” in African and Haitian communities since collaborating with local artisans for her F/W 2015 collection.

While Jean’s ladies designs have been seen on the reigning queens of the fashion and music, Beyonce and Rihanna, her menswear designs are also impressive. She has a unique way of mixing prints, colors and textures to tell a whimsical story, while maintaining sophistication. After she was chosen to do a guest showcase in the Armani/Teatro space during Milano Moda Donna, Giorgio Armani himself praised Jean’s “very international eye,” claiming that “she’s the way forward.” This is no lie, as her designs combine Italian, African, and Haitian flare, sophistication, and craftsmanship.