Davene Jonas unveils Pieces from the Fashion House collection
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Ashlie Barrett mixes things up in a bright-blue corset top, textured black skirt and matching statement boots.
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Sliman Saadieh steps into the spotlight in The Johnnie Walker Man.
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Wearing her own design, Fashion Designer Davene Jonas steps out in an asymmetrical white dress embellished with oversized circular accents and finished with a pop of red from her handbag.
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This black mini worn by Juanita Diaz was a crowd favourite.
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Chevon Vassell makes a strong case for the black dress in a strapless floor-length number with a thigh-high slit.
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Donyalee Pusey wears a piece inspired by the classic church lady, paying homage to the designer’s roots as a “preacher’s daughter”. The details on the jacket were made by hand and took six hours to construct.
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Tiffany Wong’s dual-toned red carpet look screams luxury.
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Davene Jonas (left) and Sliman Saadieh close the fashion show.
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Brittny Hutchinson wears one of the designer’s most-worn designs to date, which is available for purchase.
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Leonie Campbell wears a blue halter dress with hand-applied details.
Jamaican designer Davene Jonas gave patrons more than the expected party experience at Solara All White Sunset last Sunday.
Jonas unveiled 15 looks from her Pieces from the Fashion House collection, including The Johnnie Walker Man, a specially commissioned menswear look inspired by the iconic whisky brand and modelled by 26-year-old Syrian-born Sliman ‘Sam’ Saadieh.
For Jonas, who holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Fashion Design from the Edna Manley College of the Visual and Performing Arts, Solara offered an opportunity to place the focus squarely on the clothes. The designer said she made the deliberate choice to conceal the models’ hair and faces. This allowed the construction, silhouettes and intricate details of each garment to command the audience’s attention.
“For Solara, I wanted to create pieces that felt powerful but still refined,” Jonas said. “I didn’t want to simply make something that looked beautiful on the runway. I wanted the garments to have a presence.”
That approach extended to The Johnnie Walker Man, which Jonas developed by studying the bottle’s sleek structure and distinctive slanted label. The slanted label complemented a design element already synonymous with her work: slanted hemlines.
“I wanted it to feel sleek, confident and refined, while translating the visual language of the bottle into something wearable,” she explained. Jonas selected Saadieh to bring the look to life, saying he possessed the presence required to carry such a strong piece.
“With menswear, especially when you’re creating something with a strong visual identity, the person wearing it has to be able to carry the garment, not allow the garment to carry them,” she said.
For Saadieh, who relocated to Jamaica more than three years ago in search of a new beginning, modelling was an unexpected addition to a journey already filled with surprises. He met Jonas only a few months ago and had never considered stepping onto a runway until she suggested it.
“Modelling wasn’t on my radar until I met Davene,” he shared. “I’m always open to new experiences and, when she eventually sent me the invitation, it was a moment for me.”
The experience became even more significant when he discovered that he would be the only male model in the showcase and would wear the Johnnie Walker-inspired piece.
“It added a bit of pressure but, at the same time, it motivated me to enjoy the show,” Saadieh said. “I never thought I would do something like this, so being part of Solara and wearing something special inspired by Johnnie Walker means a lot to me.”
Now, he is hoping the runway appearance becomes the first step towards further opportunities in modelling.
Jonas, too, views Solara as another beginning. After losing her creative inspiration four years ago, she said returning to fashion with renewed purpose has been particularly meaningful.
“I want people to remember that this came from a Jamaican designer,” she said. “My ambition is to build a fashion house that can stand in the same conversation as names like Chanel, Max Mara and Elie Saab, while proudly carrying the words ‘Davene Jonas- Made in Jamaica’.”
With new collections, collaborations and the development of DaveneJonas.com ahead, the designer is clear that the 15-piece Solara showcase was not a finale.
“It’s just the beginning.”
lifestyle@gleanerjm.com