The designer behind KAJ

He’d already been spending most of his free time drawing people in varying clothing styles with different embellishments and material combinations. When the opportunity came to explore further with fabric paints and appliqu?s, Kevin proved to be a quick study with uniquely innovative creations.

Not long after, a friend selling jewelry at craft exhibitions brought along some of his new appliqu?d T-shirts to a trade show. The response was more than positive, Kevin was barraged with requests and soon added his designs to bags, all the while refining his ability to produce cleaner finishes.

Today Kevin is the designer behind KAJ, a line of clothing and accessories embodying his appreciation for the culture of Trinidad and Tobago and its African heritage.

Nature’s tones, patterns and textures dominate his first collection and signature line Chachalaca, another name for Tobago’s native bird, the Cocrico. Trademark pieces from this collection were featured at the 2005 Caribbean Fashion Week in Jamaica and the 2005 Caribbean Fashion Rhythms in Barbados. His work has also been featured on Tobago Channel 5’s fashion programme Flair, as well as in various international fashion magazines.

Kevin is now working on the production of his newest collection, ‘Mwangaza,’ which will grace runways this September during the Trinidad and Tobago Fashion Week — Makin’ Style ‘07 and at the 2006 Caribbean Fashion Rhythms in St Kitts. Inspired by the fundamentals of African culture, KAJ Designs reflects an appreciation of the indigenous with contemporary boldness and unabashed ethnicity.

In KAJ clothing and accessories, nature’s simple beauty mixes with a modern attitude of individualism and high personal style. Lines are sensual, embellishments are chunky, and raw fabrics are touchable, all in deep earthy hues.

The KAJ concept channels the dynamism of an ancient history into classy, daring designs that speak of self-respect and independence.

Mwangaza takes its meaning from the word culture in Swahili, defining the collection as synonymous with the indelible African culture of Tobago.

Its avant garde pieces were designed with the South African landscape in mind, drawing inspiration from its deep sensuality, rich earth tones, and hypnotic rhythms.

The KAJ design marries modern fashion to couture featuring an indigenous feel in burlap, linens, raw silk and cottons accessorising with nature in calabash, wooden beads, bamboo and exotic pheasant plumes.

The defining colours take their lead from these finishing details in tan, taupe, rich browns, burnt orange and even gold, all intertwined with the strongest spiritual shade of black. Mwangaza sets a new trend for the Caribbean, dressing women in long feminine tiered and A-line skirts, low cut and peek-a-boo blouses and bamboo earrings with matching coconut shell bracelets.