Fashion and style are both an integral part of our modern lives, and one entity that has mastered both these characteristics is Seora. “The leader in custom outfitting,” Seora has fitted some of the Caribbean’s finest in reggae, dancehall, and the creative industry as a whole. Seora has prided itself on the fact that its customers have entrusted them with its image and identity. In a fickle industry like fashion, Seora has managed to be at the forefront since its inception, staying trendy and even predicting trends, as they have in their latest project, “Future Caribbean.”
As interesting and entertaining as always, Caribbean streetwear is at the heart of this project, but with an exciting spin, as Seora embraces what the fashion of the future is like for us Caribbean people. I could see someone doing a throwback “Flairy” in this fit while your order of rum hovers over you after a cashless transaction. Still staying true to an authentic Caribbean style, the look features a familiar “mesh marina” and several gold chains, paired with futuristic elements like the wrap-visor sunglasses. Most notably, the look is the expertly bleached cargo set with blues and hues resembling the beautiful Caribbean Sea. “The aim was to juxtapose the future with vintage—which will bring across the message that the future of the Caribbean is interlinked with its past,” CARIB VOXX was told. “So it is in the beginning, so it shall be in the end.” we’ve heard.
Furthermore, the use of accessories and props in the “Future Caribbean” project was both impressive and intentional; from the camcorder to the visor and the environment, which is at the creative space Green Yard in Port-Of-Spain, it gives a Caribbean nostalgia and feels while simultaneously giving futuristic hints. With the intention of the collection being to invoke a feeling of Caribbean patriotism, you could say it hits home. Also on display in Future Caribbean are the talents from across the region involved in this project.
“My upcoming men’s wear collection inspired this project—I was designing the pieces to be part of the line and was inspired to do a creative concept shoot,” Shampagne, Jamaican fashion designer, creative director, and stylist, told the CARIB VOXX team. Being inspired, she then incorporated musician Jimmy October, who modelled the piece shot by photographer Olawùjon Scott. When asked how the experience was working with these creatives, Shampagne replied, “It was great working with Jimmy. He’s widely considered a forward-thinking fashion icon, so it was great having his persona a part of the shoot. Ola is such an amazing photographer. A lot of people in the creative space in Trinidad and Tobago are familiar with him and his work, and he really delivered on the project. It was amazing having their perspectives on my creative concept and they really brought it to life”.
This is not the first editorial by the brand, as Seora released “High Fashion” last year, which was shot by JP Williams, with Kadiya McDonald as the model. Ironically, Future Caribbean is a beginning as Seora has another editorial coming in a matter of months, followed by their first streetwear collection. It will be interesting to see what Seora has in store for the Caribbean fashion scene as they have already announced themselves as part of the Future Caribbean.