Fashion Buzz
Archived: Remember The Name – ‘Levi Marcus’. Don’t Say We Didn’t Tell You!
It’s Sunday. What’s better than having that awesome Caribbean Sunday lunch, a tall glass of freshly squeezed orange juice and a damn good read? NOT A DAMN THING. Let’s kick it off. Today our Ebuzztt.com team brings you the scoop on one of Trinidad and Tobago’s finest young talents. As we said from the get go- remember the name Levi Marcus.
Levi Marcus is a creative.
Levi Marcus is by all standards, a creative. Don’t try boxing him into any particulars because that just won’t work. He’s from a lineage that includes the likes of the late, great musician and composer, Andre Tanker and even Trinidad and Tobago’s first internationally known artist, Michel-Jean Cazabon. At 21-years-old, Marcus has his eye set on becoming a curator. He’s always been interested in drawing, designing, photography, fashion and aesthetics to say the least. Having started his journey three years ago, Levi ventured into modeling, photography and even studied tailoring at the Savile Row Academy in London, the alma mater of Trinidad and Tobago’s Gregory Millhouse of the award-winning Caribbean fashion label, Millhouse Clothing.
The youngster then set out to build his resume, first learning the intricacies of tailoring to lend to his passion in fashion. Now he’s attending the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York where he’s pursuing Fashion Business Management and he’s even considering Entrepreneurship as a course of study to better equip himself for what lies ahead. Not stopping there, the Caribbean good-looker who understands the importance of branding, officially launched his website LeviMarcus.com on August 6th. The site features photographic insight into Marcus’ creative passion. His words, “LeviMarcus is an ‘evolving lifestyle brand that evokes a LIVE, LIME, LOVE philosophy,” can be felt throughout the length and breadth of the online portal. He says this is owed to his love for Trinidad and Tobago.
Trinidad and Tobago fashionista Shari Cumberbatch of Shop Shari, one of the aspiring curator’s mentors, has been a true inspiration. He’s also been thoroughly supported by his family and for that, the young artistic soul is gracious. Like many others in the creative field, passion is total motivation and so, those who are on the opposite spectrum of creativity, often find it hard to understand a creative’s approach to life. His family has however proven understanding. With a line of hats created and already sold out most recently, Marcus is now working on sketches for pants and t-shirts. His journey has only just begun, but with a clear outlook to life and the possibilities that lie in wait, Levi Marcus is definitely a name you’ll want to remember now, because when things blow up, we want you to recall just where you heard it first. Check out his website today and SUPPORT LOCAL.
Fashion Buzz
Carnival Shines More Light on T&T’s Fashion Industry.
In Trinidad and Tobago, the concept of Carnival fashion isn’t a stretch. Over the years, fashion has taken centre stage in the Trinidad and Tobago carnival. All inclusive fetes in particular, are known to encourage the fashion conscious to do the most, punctuating the experience with looks that are straight out of fashion magazines.
Last week, at Carnival Is Fashion 2, fashion, music and masquerade were celebrated in a splendid showcase of artistic and imaginative talent at the Queen’s Park Savannah in Port-of-Spain. Design houses, The Cloth, Zadd & Eastman, Dianne Hunt / Tennessee Ramnarinesingh, DAWW Creations, Indigenous Philosophy by Dominique La Roche, SGP Resort, SM Warner…Art with Attitude, Yesa Designs, Mark Eastman, Elizabeth Lucas, Lost Tribe, and special guest designer April Walker were among the designers who showed off their pieces to a near capacity audience at the Grand Stage at the Savannah. Entertainers Nailah Blackman and Patrice Roberts were included in the mix, as cultural elements such as well as the Blue Devil, Jab Jab, Bats, Moko Jumbies and a Tambu Bamboo band.
Carnival Is Fashion 2 was conceptualised and produced by Richard Young. The National Carnival Commission says it is committed to placing a spotlight on all dimensions of Carnival, while appealing to diverse audiences.
Fashion Buzz
Trini Fashion Designer Brings Caribbean Cultural Ethos To Clarks Footwear Brand.
A Trinidad born fashion designer is making his presence felt internationally. Joshua Joseph of New York-based fashion brand, Rebels to Dons, has joined forces with classic shoemaker, Clarks Originals and American designer Ronnie Fieg, to create an exclusive new design.
The design was released on June 30th, online and commerated with an in-store event at menswear boutique Blue in Green. The landmark Rebels to Dons x Clarks shoe is part of 8th Street — the innovative sub-label by Kith founder Ronnie Fieg.
The collaboration marks the next major chapter in the Caribbean’s storied relationship with the British brand. For decades, Clarks Shoes have remained a preferred footwear brand in the islands with many Caribbean artistes even highlighting the brand in their music. In turn, the brand has released many Caribbean-inspired collections over the years. Joseph however, is the first Caribbean-born designer to create his own Clark’s silhouette.
“It’s exciting to work with such a classic brand that has been a part of our culture for so long,” said Joseph. “As the designer, I see this as an opportunity to give a sense of ownership to the people that truly embodied and embraced this brand so much,” he continued.
For his landmark project, Joseph took inspiration from the late 1970s and 80s, when a new wave of Caribbean immigrants imported their distinctive fashion (and eternal love for Clarks) into New York City’s streetwear lexicon. Honoring the two places that shaped him as a designer, “I wanted the design to show how the city and the islands are connected through style,” said Joseph.
With this in mind, the designer reimagined Fieg’s Clarks maycliffe into a mule, incorporating dynamic details that can morph into the wearer’s day-to-night flex. “This is something that you can dress up and dress down, all at the same time,” he explained.
Made of natural tan nubuck leather, the mule features hallmarks of the Clarks brand, from the crepe outsole to stitched upper detailing. Personalization comes courtesy two removable fringed straps, one in a matching tan nubuck, and the other a nubuck brun. These trimmed straps can be swapped or layered together.
By remixing these detachable accents, one can transform the mule, “from simple to extravagant,” said Joseph. “This one design gives you room to do as much as you want,” he highlighted.
Expressive, adaptable adornments cut to the core of Joseph’s overall ethos at Rebels to Dons. The brand has garnered wide acclaim for their radical reinterpretation of streetwear staples, splicing together kinetic colors, patchwork textures and off-kilter silhouettes to form something truly surreal. “For us, embellishments are our way of disrupting the familiar and making something unexpected,” explained Joseph. “And our Clarks mule captures that spirit.”
The Rebels to Dons x Clarks maycliffe mule have been released in a limited edition run. They will be sold exclusively online via the Rebels to Dons website rebelstodons.com. The closing event to celebrate the launch will take place at Soho Beach House in Miami on July 30th.
