Rachel for I Love JA....

Rachel is crafting magic....

Born in Denver, Colorado, Rachel moved to Kingston, Jamaica at the tender
age of one. The different cultural spectrum of the childhood days
instilled a sense of creative freedom that has traveled with her to this
day. In fact, it was her upbringing in Jamaica that allowed her to adopt
a raggamuffin style and her huge infatuation with earrings of all shapes
and sizes.

Moving back to Colorado at age eight meant adjusting a different lifestyle
that wasn‘t the most relatable. However, Rachel’s evolution took shape
when the family moved to the famous hippie town of Woodstock, NY, shortly
after. It was there that she saw the glimpse of becoming an artist and a
timely family reunion trip forced the need to revisit and reconnect
Jamaica and refocus. It was the magnetism and connection with Jamaica that
inspired her so much. Inevitably, a sudden decision to attend the
University Of The West Indies, while being unhappy at St John’s University
in the fall of 2007 changed her life.

In 2008, Rachel started working on the ‘Born As A Raggamuffin’ jewelry
selections for the Afro Punk Festival. The earrings were a hit and thus
the birth of a passion that was destined for the emerging talent.
Rachel currently works side by side with her sister Zebi Williams as part
of the creative team for Born As A Raggamuffin Designs. She is thankful
that she gets to live her dreams and sites her sister as a tremendous
influence.


by Ano Okera

Rachel Williams
for Born As A RaggaMuffin
by Ano Okera

When you hear the name Raggamuffin you think of the rogue Jamaican who refuses to conform to the rigours of society's norms. In fact, being part of a rastafarian heritage, I grew up with uncles, aunts and friends that have shaped my idea of what a raggamuffin should look like. So imagine my dilema when I met these girls in charge of Fashion Line called Born As A RaggaMuffin.

I first heard about them over lunch with the Fashion Editor at Carib News, Walter Green, after Caribbean Fashion Week earlier this year. We started to talk about the designers to look out for when he mentioned them and said they were out of New York. In my own mean way, I had an internal 'laugh out loud' because it was apparent that here are some American girls who have no idea what it is like to be a bad man or girl for that matter roughing it out in Jamaica. The joke became even bigger as my curiosity planted the need to figure out how does one translate being a RaggaMuffin that into a fashion line.

The answers to my question fell into my lap a few weeks before recording some original songs with my new producer. I walked into the studio which was packed with a bunch of beautiful women, spirits and people eveyone would like to meet. Luckily for me, I was well dressed and ready. Then the devil inside smiled with glee as I was finally coming face to face with the New York Raggamuffins Zebi and Rachel Williams.

They both had chique nonchalance about their presentation and both emanated the sunny disposition of the islands. It immediately clicked during conversation that these girls are from Jamaican Parents. Though it wasn't so much about being bad girls, the lifestyle that they adopted as Caribbean people living in New York seemed to substantiate why they have branded themselves as Raggamuffins.

The Born As A RagaMuffin Line epitomizes the new young woman from day to night as she takes on big city business or play with confidence, power and a unique charm that says here I am with no apologies. The collection was conceived by Zebi Williams and her partners and as I got into the style I said yes yes yessssssss.....

I was asked to sing at a fundraising mixer the sisters staged to raise funds for the RaggaMufin Summer Camp this summer. It was at this event that I was introduced to the earings that Rachel created and I rushed over to her and said 'You are sitting on a Goldmine'.....

Rachel has been influenced primarly by the swagger of the Jamaican Culture. Though she was born in the United States, growing up in Jamaica left it's stamp on her identity. She is a true radical who is actually shy about the masterpieces that she creates. I have sat and watched in amazement while she crafted her accessories and like most artists she had no idea just how cutting edge and avant garde her work truly is.

At a recent performance at Exhibit Equality hosted Gavin Creel and Chasten Harmon at [Space On White] in Tribeca, the hit of the event was Rachel's earings. She was one of the featured artists and I stood by observing and overheard fashionistas from all walks of life marvelling at her designs. I knew I had to ask her lend some of her earings to a few of the projects I was woking on. She is without a doubt the new accessory designer to watch.

Born As A RaggaMuffin by Peter Dean

Born As A RaggaMuffin
by Peter Dean
for AfflictedYard.com
Creative Direction and Styling
by Ano Okera

Heat, Leather and Lace in Tribeca

Heat, Leather and Lace in New York
by Peter Dean for AfflictedYard.com

Afflicted Yard and the genius that lives there

Afflicted Yard
and the genius that lives there
by Ano Okera
A few months ago, I was hiding out in my manager’s place with my producer and a friend Jacqui. After a few drinks and random conversation she insisted that there is this friend of hers who I had to meet. She continued that his name is Peter Dean and forced me to log on to affictedyard.com to check out his work....I was immediately blown away.
Not only were the images visually captivating but the social commentary was out of this world. Being tired suddenly became an oversight because I hypnotized by the need to see everything that was captured, filmed or written by this unapologetic yet misunderstood genius from Jamaica. He has a way of sensationalizing simplicity. Sometimes it moves your spirit and other times it outright disturbs your core though you can't get enough. I said to my friend 'Jacqui, I have to meet this bredrin....when is he coming to New York?' She responded 'Funny you ask, he is coming the following week.'
I met Peter and Jacqui for drinks at the Standard Hotel in New York. As awkward as I felt for doing it, I had to share with Peter how huge a fan I was of his work and that I also idolized his politically incorrect execution. He laughed at his discomfort of me putting him on the spot while expressing his sentiments.
While immersing his self in the New York vibe, Peter's need to expanding his work recently landed him a feature in French Vogue and a couple of other European Publications. As a result, I was asked to Produce and Creative Direct some of the new editorial content for afflictedyard.com, so as to add another dimension to his brand. I thought they were crazy for asking me...after I excitedly said...'YESSS!!!’.
Peter's work has impacted the way I now view photography as art. Our collaboration was effortless and his willingness to share his enthusiasm for the process was a tremendous learning experience. I feel blessed to be able to do what I love while tapping into the creative masterminds like Peter who leave indelible imprints on our psyche.

Ano Okera
www.anookera.com
www.anookera.com/services/
www.anookera.blogspot.com

Serving Glamour and Glasses in 'I Love JA'

Shannon Rocks 'I Love JA'

I Love JA Duets

These were to adorable to not share....

One Love,

Ano Okera
www.anookera.com
www.anookera.com/services/
www.anookera.blogspot.com

Miss Jamaica in I Love JA

Sanya Hughes, Miss Jamaica Universe 2002 and international modelling sensation, wears 'I love JA' with the pride and beauty that is just simply Sanya. Working with her was an absolute pleasure.

One Love,
Ano Okera
www.anookera.com
www.anookera.com/services/
www.anookera.blogspot.com

I Love JA in the Streets Of New York

I Love JA

in the Streets of New Yorkby Ano Okera

They say great minds think alike and this could not be more appropriate than when long time friends Kimberley Lue Lim and Nikeisha Boothe conceived the ‘I Love JA’ brand. I was intro

duced to the shirts when I was performing at the Bitter End in New York earlier this year and it was love at first sight. I totally abandoned what was styled for my performance so I could wear it. And though I upset my stylist, he had to understand that it exemplified the simplicity of my sentiment for Jamaica. After the show, I knew then and there that I was going to eventually creative direct and style a campaign for the line.

According to Kimberley, the inspiration for the line came after being thrust in a cultural melting pot and realizing just how addicted she is to her culture while studying in New York. She was at NYU doing her graduate degree in International Businessand Economic Developme

nt with the hope of going back hometo continue to build Jamaica. While home in 2006, she m

et up with Nikeisha to chat about life and about her new ‘SAI Collection’. Nikeisha has always been known for her unique sense of fashion. She decided to venture in fashion merchandising and has been designing handbags for the “Bag n’ Pan” line under her ‘SAI Collection’, where she has allowed her Jamaican influences to inspire her work. What started out as a casual conversation between the two metamorphed into this amazing brand that speaks to the hearts of all proud

Jamaicans.In fact, the initial responses to the shirtswere phenomenal an

d in January 2007 they both decided to do a test run. With ‘I Love JA’ as a part of the ‘Blouse n’ Skirt’ line of the SAI Collectionthey decided to commence promotions on Facebook. This proved to be a move in the right direction and as the numbers and requests grew, it was clear that this was a viable brand that appeals

to people from all walks of life.

It is a great privilege to introduce Kimberley and Nikeisha as my first Caribbean innovators. They have given me an opportunity to collaborate with Peter Dean to capture their vision. Please allow me to introduce the new brand that is taking over the Streets of New York……'I Love JA’.

http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=7707793262&ref=ts

One Love,
Ano Okera
anookera.com
anookera.com/services/
anookera.blogspot.com

Ano Okera the unofficial ambassador for Caribbean Culture in New York

Ano Okera
the Unofficial Ambassador for Caribbean Culture in New York

As a singer/songwriter/image and brand consultant on the New York scene, there are so many things that have influenced my concept of art, music and style. The interesting thing about the man I am today is that being rooted in my Jamaican culture has in so many ways informed the way I create with the inspiration that surrounds me daily. It is so humbling to get up and be thrust in the many different cultures in this New York dynamic. The music, fashion, art scene, theatre, food and faces from so many different perspectives are all breathtaking. It makes me feel very proud that I get to represent the land I love, in the land I now call home.

As an unofficial ambassador for Jamaica, it is the most amazing thing to walk down the street in Manhattan and hear my native tongue or my reggae/dancehall music blazing from a car passing by. It is even more tremendous to see my Caribbean brothers and sisters etch their names and legacies while paving their way in New York and the rest of the world.

Caribbean Cultures are without a doubt a strong part of the pulse of New York. Caribbean minds, music, fashion, art and style have influenced and in many instances have given birth to a lot of what we now hold as pop culture.

This blog is a glimpse of New York through my journal. It is a dedication to the new Caribbean evolution in the arts. It is also an invitation for you to come experience and listen to the emergence of Caribbean fashion, music, literature and art, to the new voices and faces that will change your world forever.

One Love,
Ano Okera
anookera.com
anookera.com/services/
anookera.blogspot.com