Tanya Ellis, Gleaner Writer 
Designer Earl 'Biggy' Turner (right) alongside a model wearing one of his creations at Caribbean Fashionweek 2006. - photos by Winston Sill/ Freelance Photographer
For almost two decades, Jamaican fashion designer Earl 'Biggy' Turner has set the pace for dancehall trends and has built up a formidable reputation that stretches across international borders.
Biggy has taken his designs mainstream and dressed some of Jamaica's most influential fashion icons. He was the inspiration behind Shabba Ranks' fashion choices, a client he also dressed for the Grammys back in 1995, and since then has added to his client list Toots Hibbert, among a host of international stars.
His garments continue to be sought-after commodities and he humbly accepts the recognition.
"Caribbean Fashionweek (CFW) is the opportunity that was needed in this region," Biggy told The Sunday Gleaner. "It provides the platform for up-and-coming as well as established designers to display their clothes in a setting that is a true testament to recognising these designers."
Since his CFW debut back in 2001, Biggy has missed only last year, that due to other business demands.
He promises to make up for that absence this year with three collections to die for on the summer event. "You will see sides of me you have never even got a glimpse of before. What I will unleash on the runway this year will be undiluted, high-tech and exclusive," he told The Sunday Gleaner.
Usually, he would insert a few couture pieces throughout a collection, but for this year's show, for which he has already started to prepare, he says he has a separate couture collection, since this is the direction he is looking to market the fruits of his label.
Within the industry, Biggy's name stands for clothes of the highest quality. He told The Sunday Gleaner he will continue to maintain this, because his audience expects it and he expects it of himself. "At any one time my audience will only be exposed to about one-third of my creativity, so they will always be curious as to what I am coming with next, and I have to ensure that I fulfil that anticipation," he said.
"There is always room for creative growth. Sometimes I create a piece that will blow me away and make me question if I will be able to outdo that item the next season," Biggy said. He says that euphoric experience happened with the creation of the denim wedding dress that was co-designed with Debbie Simpson in April 2007. That piece, he said, ultimately set his challenge bar, and that is one aspect of his creative development.
He says he draws inspiration from his everyday life. "People I see around me every day, but more than anyone else I get inspired by the sex appeal of a woman's body, the one that walks, talks and breathe sexy," he said.
He names international Pulse models Nadine Willis and Carla Campbell as having the perfect attitude for wearing his designs. Outside of Angelina Jolie, whom he admires for making a sometimes-boring outfit look stylish, Biggy says the two Jamaican models are his muse. "They have the perfect attitude for my designs, and that is what my clothes are about. Plus, they look good wearing them," Biggy said.
With a stunning and utterly individual vision, in addition to unwavering determination and hard work, Biggy has proven his commercial and creative permanence in an industry famed for being very fickle.
The Caribbean's exclusive week-long series shows are made possible by Pulse International, and is a way of unifying Caribbean design, fashion and street style.
Nadine Willis struts her stuff in this royal denim and lace wedding gown, also a Biggy design.
A model presents multicoloured fashion from designer Biggy at the Red Stripe Reggae Sumfest Exclusive Party, held on the lawns of Terra Nova Hotel, Waterloo Road, in June 2006.
A model wears one of Biggy's designs at the Eclectic Fashion Show, held at Backyard, Constant Spring Road, on Saturday, April 9, 2005. 
Nadine Willis wears the couture piece which featured the ingredients of Nestle's Cereal at Caribbean Fashionweek 2005..
