Sadeke Brooks, Staff Reporter
Left: A model presents a design by Meleissa Dunkley at Saint International's Fashion Face of the Caribbean' held at the Courtleigh Auditorium, St Lucia Avenue, New Kingston, on Saturday, March 15. Right: Meleissa Dunkley presented a very edgy collection at the Touch of France Expofashion show, entitled 'La Hot Couture', at the Hilton Kingston hotel poolside, New Kingston, on Sunday, April 29, 2007. - File photos
Upcoming Jamaican designer Meleissa Dunkley says she plans to unleash a collection for the 'classy Jamaican woman' at this year's Style Week Jamaica.
She says the type of designs is a secret, but they are being created so the Jamaican woman can leave the office and head directly to dinner.
This is not the first time that Dunkley will be showing her pieces at a big fashion event, as her designs were modelled last year's Style Week when she entered the Avant Garde competition.
Dunkley is the proprietor of MDiz Designs, which she started in 1999 after completing professional training. Most of that training took place between 1995 and 1999. She attended Edna Manley College for the Visual and Performing Arts where she did a course in art. She also studied garment construction and business development at CAST (now UTech) and later went to Ann Gees Fashion to perfect her skills.
Wanted to be a fashion designer
Her interest in fashion developed because her grandfather was a tailor and her grandmother was also involved in sewing. Dunkley says she realised she wanted to be a fashion designer in high school, as a result of these influences.
"Designing is something that I grew up with. In high school I used to design cheerleading costumes," she told The Gleaner.
Her socialisation and training have helped her develop the style of designs which is "edgy, flirty, but still very classy".
"I have a wide target market. My inspiration comes from my clients, the fabric and the mood that I am in. Most of my friends and clients call me lightning," she says.
That wide market is obvious, judging by Meleissa's clientele. She has designed for bridal parties and done uniforms for companies. She also designs and makes promotional clothes for Magnum, Kingston Beer, Ocean Spray, Heineken and Mudslide.
Meleissa also designed the outfits for Vegas' Constant Spring music video, as well as those for other music videos for Queen Paula and Delishus. She has also dressed Macka Diamond, Alaine and Queen Paula.
Media personalities have also sported her designs, as Paula-Anne Porter-Jones wore a piece of her couture at the recent Miss Jamaica Universe coronation show. She has also dressed Sydoney Smith, Judith Bodley, Deidra James and Miss Kitty.
MDiz's pieces were shown at Touch of France, held at the Hilton Kingston hotel earlier this year, as well as at Fashion Block and Faces of the Caribbean, last year.
She says she hopes that Jamaicans will attend Style Week to support local designers. And Meleissa is also hoping for support when she opens her own outlet and launches her company in August.
