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The 25-year-old Kingston native, attended St. Hugh’s High before moving on to Immaculate Conception High School. In 2006 she moved to New York and attended the Art Institute of New York City studying fashion design. and later went on to intern with design houses, which includes Donna Karan, Monique Leshman, and Marchesa .
Ayanna Dixon is model and former Miss Jamaica Universe Contestant turned designer talks about her new line ASD and life.
CEM:What inspired you to get into fashion design?
AD: My initial desire was to do something close to the field my father is in, architecture, perhaps interior designing, then maybe a textile designer like my mother. However, I had a change of heart somewhere between designing my prom dress, Vera Wang and experiencing the fashion world in New York.
CEM: Did you have to train or apprentice with another designer? How was that?
I interned with Donna Karan, Monique Leshman and Marchesa, all of which were amazing! Donna Karan (Sales department) was very glamorous; imagine Devil Wears Prada, however, there design department was very wear sneakers not heels....run get coffee organise buttons type. Marchesa was really interesting, just being able to see from start to finish the amount of detail they put into each garment. Monique Leshman was good because I saw a small designer line grow into a brand that many celebs knew and wore.
CEM:Which fashion designers have been important points of reference for you?
AD: * Vera Wang
* Diane von Furstenburg (DVF): its colourful, funloving, strong vibrant designs with sex appeal
* Monique Leshma
* Donna Karan Intl
* Marchesa
CEM: Describe your philosophy about the art of fashion.
AD: Fashion is an extension of someone's personality. It should have an impact on a person's mood and feelings and allow them to feel empowered, sophisticated, confident and sexy. As such, as a fashion designer I have to design clothes that empower and is an expression of my target market.
CEM: What inspires your designs?
AD: Most times I like to let "the fabric talk to me" and sometimes I'm just inspired by random things.
CEM:Why did you decided in enter "Mission Catwalk?
AD: My aunt was the one who heard about it initially and thought that it would be a good idea. Honestly I did not want to do it initially but I am happy I did it.CEM: How as the show helped your business?
AD: The exposure I received as a result is really good. A lot more people know and are interested in finding out more about ASD and Ayanna Dixon .
CEM: Do you think Jamaicans are more likely to embrace International Designers as oppose Local Designers?. If why?
AD: I believe that a lot of Jamaicans are foreign minded. A lot of the fashionable people in Jamaica really cling to American culture and support the American brands like H&M and Michael Kors more than our local designers. They also tend to respect the international designers more than the local designers. That is just because we do not have a real fashion industry in Jamaica, we do not have the support, skill set and proper training. However, this is not the same in, for example, Trinidad where they actually have a fashion industry; their designers compete with the international designers and have local stores where people go to and purchase the local designer clothing.
CEM:What local celebrity would you like to style and why?
AD: Tami Chynn…I love her!
CEM: What advice do you have for a young woman who wants to be a fashion designer?
AD: Get to know people in the industry, work hard, think big, do not limit yourself to resources. Hard work really pays off.
CEM: Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
AD: “Oh I am going to be the Donna Karan in the region”. Seriously, I want to be the best in the region and have store regionally.
CEM: Where you people buy and see your products?
June Plum
Shop 6D Mall Plaza
Kingston 10
OMG
11 Braemar Avenue
Kingston 6
Soho
96 Hope Road
Kingston 6
Indigo
5A Barbican Center
Kingston 6 Website: http://www.asdclothing.com/
We are adding to our social media family, a blog, asdclothing.tumblr.com. So stay tuned to our website http://www.asdclothing.com/, twitter, @asdclothing and facebook, http://www.facebook.com/
ASD Collection 2011
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+ comments + 2 comments
I am a Jamaican living in New York,first I must say I am really proud of your work. I think your Tees are really nice.. Will they be available on your website for international delivery
AD - sorry to break it to you hon, but you are out of order to say that Jamaica doesn't have a fashion industry and that our designers are not well trained. My dear please go do some research....Pat Wright, Moncrieffe, Mutamba, Biggy, Minka, Bill Edwards, SIIM. You up and coming and not because you had to go to NY to hone your craft doesn't mean that the people before you who KNOW and have been producing lines for years aren't trained my dear. You still have a long way to go. Good luck!