Jamaican Style Influencing Modern Fashion

Our rich and unique Jamaican culture seems to have a special way of influencing the rest of the world. Now Vogue is taking notice. The fashion magazine profiled reggae star Protoje’s unique hats and the keen interest they have sparked among fashionistas. Called Rasta Crowns, Protoje’s has them custom made in Jamaica by the few remaining crafters of this traditional style. He notes that their intricate designs are a dying art and so he is understandably reluctant to part with them, even when fans beg him to give them away. Protoje’s distinct fashion sense, much like his style of music, is a modern interpretation that simultaneously pays homage to the greats of the past. He manages to somehow create contemporary ensembles by blending these relics of Jamaican culture with pieces inspired by artists like Jimi Hendrix and The Beatles. But he has plans to expand the business of his few hat makers so they become accessible to everyone. He also plans to launch his own brand of mesh marinas that are increasingly influencing the fashion world. Traditionally white and worn by men, marinas, called mesh tank by Jamaicans, are now becoming popular for women everywhere. Pop artists like self-proclaimed ‘bad gyal’ and Caribbean-er Rihanna let her love for our music, dances and creole language be known on her last album. More recently, social media are busy teasing rapper Drake about his preoccupation with dancehall culture and wanna-be Jamaican antics. But the music charts are not the only place you can find Jamaican influence. The fashion world has also taken a liking to many of our original trends and styles beyond the cliché ‘Jamaican me crazy’, ‘Yeah Mon’ and ‘No Problem’ tourist T-shirts. Designer Tommy Hilfiger has a Jamaican inspired collection that includes many of these shirts in a variety of the traditional Rasta red, green and gold colours. Crocheted swimsuits and tams or ‘Rasta-hats’ are also a part of his collection. Rihanna wore a mesh dress/swim-suit coverup from the line in her Work music video. Similarly, fishnet stockings, often worn by ladies in the dancehall are also seeping into mainstream. Beyoncé wore them as she rode on the back of a motor-bike or ‘Yeng-Yeng’ when she and husband and rapper Jay-Z were in Jamaica recently. While Jamaicans are generally happy for this spread of our culture and see it as how strong it is, some have raised the issue of cultural appropriation. Many question the appropriateness of more dominate cultures adopting the customs and sporting the looks of lesser ones solely for profit. The moral dividing line between cultural embrace and appreciation and such appropriation is, for many, still difficult to determine. So the debate rages on.