Charu Locan Dass

It’s official: Caribbean fashion is heating up, and you should be watching out.

Caribbean fashion is not what you think. Gone are the days where fashion from the islands is just vacation-wear and swimsuits. Designers from the Caribbean islands are pushing the boundaries of what it means to design and how to dress people of all shapes, colors, genders and sizes to stand out. Within the Caribbean, you have nations including Barbados, Belize, Costa Rica, Jamaica, Mexico, Nicaragua, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Panama and the Dominican Republic, each with their own flare and talent.

When looking to design the future, the constant quality and ingenuity of the following designers is pushing what it means to design clothes, and bringing the colorful textures, sounds, fabrics, and history of their designs with them, and we’re here for it.

Charu Lochan Dass is an Indian-born, Trinidadian-based fashion designer who loves to blend traditional Indian ethnic wear with customizations to suit Trini women and any woman regardless of size, race, ethnicity, or shape. Leaving India at the age of six to live in Trinidad, she grew up surrounded by elements of the culture and fashion scene. She is highly educated, having pursued a degree in Fashion Design and marketing at the London College of Fashion.

Her work looks to complement the natural beauty of the female form, with charming silhouettes and items. She also said that she designed for her mother, looking to create an impressive style that makes women feel beautiful, and empowered.

Looks from Locan's latest collection: Zan 2021

Surrounded by the climate, her heritage, and the people of Trinidad, she remains a classic icon, bringing modern elements to the traditional in her work. She has designed many collections, from 2014-2021, and the tremendous growth and talent that she has fostered is evident through the maturation of her designs and style. It has been incredible to watch her come into her own through her life and we cannot wait to see how she brings this mixed talent to the rest of the world.