Forgive us for being on hiatus but with so much going on you can hardly blame us. Fully Loaded aside, there was the ever popular Independence party weekend in Negril, Miss Jamaica World and much more so we’ve got loads to share!
We simply cannot keep you out of the loop so we’ve put together a special feature with the hottest up-and-coming designers in Jamaica. We’d like to introduce the first of these acts on the local fashion stage…Yaad Trendz.
This line has been around for a minute but now with a new partnership, a hot summer line and their official launch held on the 25th of this month we figured it was only fair to put the spotlight on them. For those of you who don’t know yet, Yaad Trendz is truly Jamaican, think ultra-fashionable men, think super-sexy women, think all that is vibrant and edgy in this life, and think outside the box. Why? It’s a high-fashion line that provides exclusivity and good quality clothing, it is a brand, but let’s just say it’s a bit too edgy for the conservative dresser.
All this and more came to the fore at their official launch which also featured pieces by
Arlene Martin and Cinderella Hats, and the new Epic
Management models.
Who is it that churns out these spectacular pieces though, and where were they before now? Have no fear, Popstylejamaica has these answers and more, don’t you just love us?
UWI Mona graduate Stacia Davidson and Canadian jane-of-all-trades Jasmine Powers are the phenomenal women behind the brand and oddly enough the two partnered just over a month ago, yet one would never know it! They’ve created quite a stir on the fashion scene since they joined forces and turned quite a few heads with their sizzling summer line which they served up just in time for the Independence weekend.
Why the name Yaad Trendz?
SD: I believe necessity is the mother of invention,in high school I used to use my jeans pants to make school bags and things like that and when I was at UWI people used to wonder where I got such unique stuff from. People used to ask me to make them things because of that so I used to make things for my friends and so on. I came up with the name “Ghetto Fashions” and did a few shows but I never took them seriously until I did one at Weekenz called Yaad Trendz and the response was incredible so I decided to take the name and make a serious career of it.
Tell us about the brains behind Yaad Trendz.
JP: Well I’m Canadian, but I’ve lived in Jamaica for 20 yrs now so I’m a certified yahdie. (LOL) but I’m a positive and creative person, I’m a people person, I’m motivated and I’m also a take-charge person because I’m a mother of two boys and I’m an entrepreneur.
SD: Well I’m easygoing, crazy, artistically inclined, fashionable, I’ve been told I have an infectious laugh and I laugh a lot, LOL. I’m an oxymoron, sociable but I enjoy solitude at the same time. Oh! I’m VERY positive, I don’t tolerate negative people around me at all, and I’m a dreamer.
So how did you become business partners? Is there also a close friendship between the two of you?
Both: Yes (LOL)
JP: I always thought about getting into fashion because I love it, I did everything else real estate, herbal tablets, interior decorating…I did the former mayor of Montego Bay’s villa and got rave reviews LOL, I also sold high-end fashion jewellery from Los Angeles and whenever I go out people always liked the pizzazz. With a baby on the way now I was looking and praying for a way to make do when her brother Xavier from TOK said “you should link with my sister, she makes T-shirts and so”. We met at Hype TV shortly after that and the rest is history, we partnered the next day… it was amazing.
SD: Yea, it’s the work of God really, it’s always good to follow your spirit and the vibe was right so it worked and we’re closer than you would expect for such a short time being friends.
Tell our readers about your launch later this month.
SD: Yaad Trendz launch will be at Heather’s Garden Restaurant in New Kingston on the 25th of August, we’re gonna have what we’d like to call an interactive fashion show, we want to have artistes perform and sell our clothes at the show as well but the admission is free. Oh! We have a show after that too in Mandeville on the 28th-30th for Appleton so work is crazy right now.
Where does your inspiration come from?
SD: Everywhere! God, my friends and family, my brother always encouraged me to chase my dreams as well. After watching Beyonce’s E! True Hollywood Story I really felt like I could achieve anything. Go-getters and positive people impress me too, like Oprah. I have a “style can’t spoil” mentality because style is about individuality so nature, fabric, dancehall, other designers, everything is an inspiration.
Popstyle: Who would you say is your biggest contender or what would you say is your biggest challenge right now? JP: What competition? LOL, ok seriously I would say sourcing funding because our vision exceeds our budget so much right now…and our ideas are limitless, they come a dime a dozen so that would be it.
Speaking of which, what is your vision for Yaad Trendz?
JP: Well we want to dress Miss Jamaica for the world stage someday, we want to make clothes for athletes, we want to do a Christian line, we have an exciting fall collection coming out for men and women and we plan to eventually release individual collections…we just want to take over the world, we want to be the most popular Jamaican brand, worn in every nook and cranny.
How do you promote your designs?
SD: Well we get a lot of referrals from our clients which are mostly entertainers; we’ve dressed T.O.K., Monster Twins, and Magnum Kings and
Queens of Dancehall winner, Baby Tash. I also plan to use our website www.yaadtrendz.com but its still under construction so right now I use Hi5, Myspace and Facebook while she does the in-the-street promos; we’ve been getting great responses so far. We’re also planning to do more promotional interviews, get our stuff into select stores. We’re using some very innovative marketing strategies like having artists incorporate it into their songs too.
Popstyle: With so many new designers in the fashion industry what makes Yaad Trendz so different?
JP: Well… I’d say Yaad Trendz will make a difference because we’re serious and passionate about what we do, our clothes are vibrant and we always add a personal touch, we have a lot of hand-crafted items we use fabrics from all over the world.
SD: yea and it’s very unconventional, with a very Jamaican, reggae /dancehall element, its sophisticated, its exotic, Yaad Trendz designs are for the bold and fashion-forward people, people who are sexy and confident.
Popstyle: What does Yaad Trendz represent and who does it target?
SD: People between 16-35 yrs primarily, party-goers, people who like to be different and have a knack for fashion, celebrities, people who can handle the attention. That’s our slogan… “are you worth the attention?”
JP: Yaad Trendz represents life, spunk, colour, excitement and positivity.
It must be hard work designing and getting the clothes out there, how do you decide who does what?
JP: We both design the clothes, but we have people that do the sewing for us so that we can focus more on the designing and marketing aspects of the business.
Popstyle: You are both so alike, and yet very different. How do you make it work for Yaad Trendz.
SD: Our personalities do tend to clash a lot but it works because when the different styles come together we have to be considerate and compromise so we get a refreshing mix in the end.
JP: LOL, that’s true, I’m very wild… I like to make things that are hot, wild and eye-catching and she likes to make things for tiny people so we always argue about that. Sometimes we don’t see eye-to-eye at all but because we’re willing to try each other’s suggestion it eventually works out for us and we love the finished product.
Popstyle: Finally, do you have any advice for the readers?
JP: Not really advice but I would like to say this “I can’t wait to meet you so I can dress you.”
SD: LOL, yea if you have a body…we have an outfit.
JP: Be optimistic and dream big!
SD: Take risks, be confident, shun negativity and don’t just dream big, work on making your dreams a reality. I always say the wealthiest place is a cemetery because a lot of people die with their multi-million dollar ideas. You can speak life or speak death, both are in the power of the tongue and impossible is nothing.
JP: Definitely, never let anyone tell you what you can or cannot do.
Jeez, this must be a 10 page interview.
SD: LOL,whatever.
With prices ranging from $2000 JMD upwards the brand is consumer
friendly and well worth the cost. Yaad Trendz is without question edgy,
fun, fresh and guaranteed to make you stand out; come on people… “Yaad
Trendz a Popstyle!” What’s not to buy?
Stacia is a true testament to being yourself and following your dreams. Her creativity, vibrancy and that infectious laugh has inspired many young people, particularly from UWI where she made an indelible mark. This is the stuff that dreams are made of. Congrats Stacia, Yaad Trendz sell off!!
The fashion show was a blast!..Good quality high fashion clothes! Very creative pieces. These designers truly know how to create eye catching and sexy clothes! Congrats Stacia, well done!
Stacia, my wife and I were most disappointed to have missed your show at Heather\\\'s--I had the date wrong. A staff member told us, however, that it was very well attended and quite a smash. This morning I read all the positives that one reveiwer had to say. Keep it up, you and your partner. I know I am not one of the 16-35 crowd, but one day I hope to be able to be wearing something and when asked to be able to say--\\\"Oh, it\\\'s Yaad Trendz, yu know, my former student, Stacia. You know of her, of course!\\\"
"Falcon in flight is a beautiful sight" Staci i knew your fashion sense was impeccable from uwi days and i am happy you pursued your dreams keep going..
