The Jamaica Fashion Collections, a presentation of the best of Jamaica's fashion, design and models, will take the international stage at two shows in Brussels, Belgium, in April.

The first will be part of an African, Caribbean and Pacific cultural colloquium on Thursday and the second the Jamaican Market Penetration Extravaganza on Saturday. The shows are sponsored by the European Union's Private Sector Development Project, with strong backing from the European Commission and the facilitation support of Jamaica Trade and Invest (JTI) through its Creative Industries Unit.

The shows will feature Jamaican designers from the Jamaica Fashion Cluster and Jamaican models.

Award-winning designers

Designers include Biggy, Mutamba, Les Campbell, Julan and an Island Collective line coordinated by Sandra Kennedy. Island Collective will feature Kennedy's West Indian Sea Island Cotton Resort collection, designs by Yola Gray, Minka, The Mushroom, Heather Laine, Akira Lyn, T&T Fashions, Bridgett Sandals, Reve Jewellery, Cinderella Hats and Kawaii Jazzy.

Special guest designer is London-based, multi-award-winning Jamaican sensation, Gavin Douglas. Douglas, winner of the Prince's Trust award, is regularly featured at the collections in London and Paris, as well as at Caribbean Fashionweek.

A 12-member group of Pulse models will be joined in Brussels by their counterparts from Belgium for the presentation of the shows. The Jamaican team is headed by world-rated supermodels Jaunel McKenzie, Kimanee Wilson, Carla Campbell and fast-rising star Jeneil Williams.

Other internationals include Vogue model Rochelle Watson and L'Oreal star Reshima Hemmings. The group is completed by Caribbean Model Search winners, Latesha Coleman, Rochelle Notice, Shevolee Bell and Crystal Patterson, as well as runners-up Adriana Bryan and Racquel Smith.

The Jamaica Fashion Collections in Brussels is being produced by Pulse, under contract with JTI, after a successful bidding and selection process. The Jamaica Fashion Cluster will play a critical role in helping to prepare designers for the market penetration event, with a view to generating business. This effort will be supported by cluster representatives, who will be part of the team in Brussels. Janice Allen, creative industries manager at JTI, will also be in Brussels supporting the event. Pulse's Romae Gordon is already in Belgium and has commenced pre-production with a team of Belgian professionals, including Green Models and Mode Action.

Allen said, "Jamaica Trade and Invest will use the colloquium and the market penetration activity to identify the opportunities within the European community for Jamaica's creative industries as well as identify new markets and expand existing ones."