News

Cayman Islands fashion designer Isy B. recently launched Storyteller, a 10-piece capsule collection of swimwear, apparel and accessories designed in Cayman and inspired by local folktales.

There are three distinct hand-drawn prints within the collection, and each design tells a story based on a fable written by Cayman Islands storyteller Nasaria Suckoo-Chollete. These tales have been adapted into the traditional African storytelling style—a tribute to Isy B. founder Isy Obi’s own heritage—with a message to inspire owners every time they wear a piece from the collection.

“To me, there is a distinct energetic difference between clothing we wear that activates a sense of amazingness within us versus clothing as a patina,” explains Obi, who channels her gift as a medium into her work. “My purpose is to design pieces that evoke a deep knowing inside of the wearer that they are amazing, without needing validation from the rest of the world, and each of the stories within the collection inspires you to know that.”

The three prints that make up the collection, and the stories behind them, are:

• How the Butterflies Got Their Colour: a story about the metamorphosis of a beautiful butterfly that inspires wearers to be confident in their own skin.

• Mekaya’s Song: the tale of a young musician who overcomes adversity, reminding wearers that they, too, can emerge from difficulties stronger than before.

• Una’s wish: an enchanting fable about embracing imperfection—a self-discovery on how our individual traits are what make us unique.

Obi designed the collection from her Cayman Islands home during the island-wide COVID-19 lockdown. “I love to travel and explore the world,” she says. “Pre-pandemic, I’d bring back inspirations from my experiences and combine them with my Cayman sense of colour and my love of the natural world. When COVID-19 hit Cayman hard, I wanted to keep creating but also find a way to support and engage the creative community.”

The fashion designer collaborated with Suckoo-Cholette and Stephan Cotterell, owner of the local production company Keep Kreative, to bring the stories to life through original audio and videography, which wearers can listen to and watch via a unique QR code that comes with each design.

Several of the pieces were also finished on-island by Caymanian seamstresses and the designer used local models, photographers, and marketers to shoot and launch the collection. “I’ve enjoyed the creative process of working on this collection so much,” Obi says of collaborating with local partners. “They’ve helped me to bring my vision to life in so many more ways than just the clothes and accessories I designed.”

The collection pre-launched in December 2021 at The Spa at the Kimpton Seafire Resort + Spa with a month-long brand activation that gave spa guests the opportunity to immerse themselves in Isy B.’s world through all five senses.

The full collection is now available online at www.isybdesign.com, with local and international delivery available, and select products are also stocked at The National Gallery of the Cayman Islands and the Kimpton Seafire Resort + Spa