News

Renowned recording artist, business mogul and fashion icon, Rihanna recently made headlines by declaring Jawara Alleyne, a talented designer hailing from the Cayman Islands, as her new favorite designer. In a sit-down interview with Interview Magazine, Rihanna expressed her admiration for Alleyne's work, highlighting the significance of this recognition for both Alleyne's career and his Caymanian heritage.

Jawara Alleyne, a multi-disciplinary artist, was born in Jamaica, raised and educated in the Cayman Islands, and later moved to London. His journey as a fashion designer began at the age of sixteen when his talent was discovered by the late, Donna Reid, formerly of the Cayman National Cultural Foundation. Since then, Alleyne has achieved numerous accolades in the fashion industry, culminating in his successful stand-alone shows at London Fashion Week for his collections "Beach Business" and "Ëye of the Storm”, both drawing inspiration from Caymanian culture as his muse.

Alleyne's designs capture the creativity and rebellious spirit of island youth, drawing inspiration from Caribbean street culture. His work has garnered attention from global icons like Rihanna, Beyoncé, Bella Hadid, and FKA Twigs, while being featured in prestigious publications such as Vogue, ELLE, Harper’s Bazaar, Culted, Hypebeast and namely Dazed magazine, where Jawara first collaborated with Rihanna on the infamous “blunt dress”.

Since then, Rihanna has demonstrated spurts of support to the John Gray High School alumni, posting social media photos of her various outfits from Jawara’s Spring Summer 2024 Collection, entitled “Beach Business” and debuted at London Fashion Week in 2023, an event sponsored by the Ministry of Tourism.

In a recent social media post, Rihanna was spotted wearing a stunning pink look from Alleyne's "Beach Business" collection, further cementing her support for the designer. The link between Rihanna's endorsement and Alleyne's Caymanian roots reinforces the importance of representation and diversity in the fashion industry.

Rihanna's endorsement of Jawara Alleyne holds particular significance for both the designer and the Caymanian community. As a native of the Cayman Islands, Alleyne's success reflects the talent and creativity fostered within the region. Rihanna's public acknowledgment of Alleyne not only elevates his profile on the international stage but also shines a spotlight on Caymanian culture and artistic innovation.

Commenting on the career altering nod, Alleyne expressed;

“Coming from the Caribbean, Rihanna is someone that I’ve always looked up to as a hallmark of success. I always appreciated seeing someone who comes from a small island like myself, break boundaries and achieve their version of success. To have her not only buy into the work I create but also label me as her current favorite designer feels like a full circle moment where the vision finally becomes clear. It proves that charting my own path was the right thing to do. I’ve worked so hard and dedicated so much of the last few years establishing a creative direction and a point of view that would speak to an idea of Caribbean identity that I feel doesn’t already exist and to have her appreciate that vision to me is success.”

As Alleyne continues to make strides in the fashion world, his journey serves as an inspiration to aspiring designers in the Cayman Islands and beyond. His ability to blend Caribbean influences with high fashion has earned him recognition from industry giants and cultural icons alike, solidifying his place as a trailblazer in the fashion landscape.

For the latest news on Jawara Alleyne, please follow @jawaraalleyne on Instagram and visit jawaraalleyne.com to shop and view collections.

To read the full feature from Interview Magazine visit: https://www.interviewmagazine.com/music/rihanna-is-ready-to-confess