The average Jamaican would be hard pressed to tell the name of two Jamaican Fashion Designers. Recognition from John public is just one of the many problems that plague the landscape of Jamaica’s Fashion Industry.
Assistance from the public and private sector in terms of providing funding; quality equipment and supplies and the impossibility of competing with cheaper goods entering the country from China and India are among the other the ills of the Industry.
In developing societies like Jamaica there is need for greater commercial exploitation of artistic talents and cultural heritage and for ensuring that these form an integral part of the trade and investment programmes of Ministries responsible for Foreign Trade. It is ironic that our cultural products continue to be undervalued here at home even when they have crossed borders and established significant market niches in a large number of developed countries. - The cultural policy of Jamaica.
The German multinational company PUMA is a prime example of how companies have been capitalizing on the vibrancy of the Jamaican culture. PUMA created a ‘Jamaica Collection’ for its line of athletic shoes and other sportswear and have achieved great success from this venture.
In 2007 28.67 million pounds were funded to ten (10) business clusters by the Private Sector Development Programme (PSDP) through a five (5) year technical assistance programme financed by the European Commission and Government of Jamaica.
One of those business clusters is the Jamaican Fashion and Apparel Cluster. The cluster offers business and technical assistance, fashion and design services, pattern development, business development advice.
Its objectives are to: 1. build the capacity of cluster members and in turn the industry through education and training via workshops, conferences and field trips. 2. Market and promote the products of cluster members through trade shows, fashion shows, retail promotions, joint ventures and collaborations. 3. Product development and 4. Website development.
Its objectives are to: 1. build the capacity of cluster members and in turn the industry through education and training via workshops, conferences and field trips. 2. Market and promote the products of cluster members through trade shows, fashion shows, retail promotions, joint ventures and collaborations. 3. Product development and 4. Website development.
Steps have been made over the years by various entrepreneurs to develop the industry. In 2001, Pulse conceived, organized and produced the inaugural Caribbean Fashion week (CFW). Described by British Vogue as “one of the important new trends in world fashion,” CFW has become widely acclaimed, and is seen in over 150 countries via the Fashion TV channel.
Pulse International was founded in 1980 by Kingsley Cooper and Hilary Phillips and is now a fashion/entertainment industry powerhouse and an icon in Caribbean style, representing some of the world’s foremost models. Mr. Cooper will be given an award for lifetime achievement at the annual staging of ‘Caribbean Fashion Rocks!’ in New York on April 25, 2010.
Unlike the powerful fashion houses of Paris, Milan and New York that have been created better financed, regulated and protected for centuries; Jamaica’s Fashion industry is still up and coming.
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