Left: Jamaican calico design for festival in 1975. Center: A career girl can relax in her leisure hours in a slim jim set. Right: Ericka Cooke sports polka dots.

In the early years of independence celebration, dressing in themed colours and styles formed a large part of the package. The Ariguanabo Textile Mills, then located in St. Catherine, churned out thousands of yards of fabric such as calico, cotton or twill and in patterns ranging from stripes, florals to polka dots. Some were even made in the colours of our flag and everyone had their special independence-festival outfit.

Sacha Walters, Staff Reporter

Havaianas are rubber flip-flops which have made footprints all over the world.

Available in fashionable and casual styles, when you slip your feet into the durable rubber slippers, it feels like walking on bouncy marshmallows.

Havaianas, which means Hawaiians in Portuguese, was named in honour of the tropical destination and its people.

Made from a special rubber, the firstslipper was made in 1962 and since then they have made their way all over the world.

Dignitaries

Everyone loves Jamaica. Placed side by side, these Havaianas spell our island's name.

A fashion staple for Brazilians and New Yorkers, the slippers have graced the feet of dignitaries and the average person alike. Check out some of the styles available in Jamaica from Walk Corporation, the official distributors of Havaianas in Jamaica. With approximately 150 clients, these slippers can be found in Island Village, Craft Cottage, Go West, among other locations.

Additional information from www.havaianasus.com.

This sandal gives new meaning to rubber. The stylish gold bands which buckle like a traditional leather sandal show why even dignitaries love Havaianas.

The Jamaica Cultural Development Commission coined special fashion taglines such as 'stripe me solid' in an attempt to expose Jamaican designs and designers.

For example, in 1984, the fabric of choice was stripe. Today, we no longer dress up in special fabric or colours but Flair is taking you on a walk down memory lane with some pieces and looks that have stood the test of time.

These pastel-coloured peach and blue flip-flops are cool.

A heavy calico kaftan trimmed with hand embroidery on both sides of the zipper in the front. The slit at the side allows free movement.

FIT FOR A QUEEN: Three designs from the House of Ivy which were revealed at a show on Wednesday evening in a collection entitled 'Fit for a Queen'. From left a versatile dress designed from printed chiffon. The dress is lined with a similar material which enables the upper part to be used as a stole. It is held up with spagetti straps. Next the denim took with embroidered cotton denim skirt cut on the circle worn with an interesting halter top. The whole outfit is decorated with a dry twig design. And lastly a heavy calico kaftan decorated with hand embroidery on both sides of the zipper in the front. The slit at the side allows free movement.