Thu | Oct 2, 2025

Dancehall male fashion exhibition mounted at ACIJ/JMB

Published:Sunday | March 23, 2025 | 9:37 PMPaul H. Williams/Gleaner Writer
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A dancehall look from the ‘rude boy’ era, perhaps?
Paul H Williams
A dancehall look from the ‘rude boy’ era, perhaps?
From second left: Fashion designer/expert Robert Hall and Karen Smith-D’Aguilar of Signature Style, retailer of Clarks footwear, listen as fashion designer and retailer Troy Oraine Williamson of Tribe Nine Studios makes a point during the panel discussi
Paul H Williams
From second left: Fashion designer/expert Robert Hall and Karen Smith-D’Aguilar of Signature Style, retailer of Clarks footwear, listen as fashion designer and retailer Troy Oraine Williamson of Tribe Nine Studios makes a point during the panel discussion at the launch of an exhibition called ‘Dancehall Male Fashion’ on Thursday, February 20, at the African Caribbean Institute of Jamaica/Jamaica Memory Bank at 10-12 Ocean Boulevard in downtown Kingston.
From Left: Suzette Thomas, fashion designer (Dress Mecca) who created the suit worn by Georgette McGlashen-Miller (second from left), research fellow, African Caribbean Institute of Jamaica (ACIJ/JMB); Dr. Kirt Henry, director, ACIJ/JMB; and Abigail Willia
Paul H Williams
From Left: Suzette Thomas, fashion designer (Dress Mecca) who created the suit worn by Georgette McGlashen-Miller (second from left), research fellow, African Caribbean Institute of Jamaica (ACIJ/JMB); Dr. Kirt Henry, director, ACIJ/JMB; and Abigail Williams, education outreach officer, ACIJ/JMB striking a pose against the chalkboard.
A dancehall outfit of yesteryear.
Paul H Williams
A dancehall outfit of yesteryear.
From left: Edna Manley College of the Visual and Performing Arts’ School of Drama students Kaylia Ferron, Demario Malcolm, Christene Coote, and Kibwe ‘Scantana’ Lawrence are ‘Inna Dancehall Style’.
Paul H Williams
From left: Edna Manley College of the Visual and Performing Arts’ School of Drama students Kaylia Ferron, Demario Malcolm, Christene Coote, and Kibwe ‘Scantana’ Lawrence are ‘Inna Dancehall Style’.
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ON THURSDAY, February 20, the African Caribbean Institute of Jamaica/Jamaica Memory Bank (ACIJ/JMB) launched an exhibition called ‘Dancehall Male Fashion’ at 10-12 Ocean Boulevard in downtown Kingston.

The event was moderated by Georgette McGlashen-Miller, research fellow at the ACIJ/JMB, and curator of the show. In her overview, she said, among other things, “The Male Fashion in Dancehall exhibition is a deliberate and timely exploration of one of Jamaica’s most dynamic and expressive cultural elements, fashion in the Dancehall space … .

“Launching this exhibition during Reggae Month 2025 is both strategic and symbolic. Reggae and dancehall, though distinct genres, are deeply intertwined in Jamaica’s cultural narrative. Reggae Month is a time to honour Jamaica’s musical and artistic contributions, making it the perfect moment to shine a light on the equally influential world of Dancehall fashion.”

In his welcoming address, Dr Kirt Henry, director at ACIJ/JMB, opened with, “Dancehall is bold. Dancehall is rebellious. Dancehall is undeniably Jamaican. And today, we celebrate one of its most striking elements –fashion. This exhibition is part of our AYA cultural engagement programme, an initiative dedicated to promoting different aspects of Jamaica’s vibrant heritage.” Aya is the name of the fern plant in African Adinkra symbology, and is an icon that represents philosophies of endurance, perseverance, and resourcefulness.

Further on Dr Henry also said, “Each February, during Reggae Month and Black History Month, AYA provides a platform to explore the cultural expressions that shape our national identity. With this month’s theme being ‘Jamaican Popular Music’, this exhibition was conceived to highlight dancehall’s undeniable impact. Like reggae, dancehall is a revolutionary force, born from these Jamaican streets and now has left an impact on the world.”

Like the music itself, dancehall fashion has captured the imagination of people from all over the world, some whom, not only embrace the concept, but has made dancehall clothes a part of their everyday wear. As such, the greater part of the programme was taken up by a panel discussion on the impact of dancehall on fashion. And, of course, the dancehall shoe brand of choice is Clarks, which is a fixture even outside of the dancehall space.

“I have never opened my store door one day, and don’t get a good reaction from my clients, never. It is an awesome brand to sell, and it has become a part of dancehall, it’s like a part of our DNA,” panellist Karen Smith-D’Aguilar of Signature Style, retailer of Clarks footwear, told the gathering, among other things, after which a lengthy discussion on the popularity of Clarks footwear ensued.

Other panellists, moderated by McGlashen-Miller, were fashion designer/expert Robert Hall of Jamaica Business Development Corporation, Carlton Brown Designs, and Edna Manley College of the Visual and Performing Arts (EMCVPA) connection, and fashion designer/retailer Troy Oraine Williamson of Tribe Nine Studios.

One of the points that Hall made was how people, including artistes in the dancehall space, create their own style with the fashion of the day, making it their own, placing their own stamp on it, standing out from the rest. In doing so, he referenced Leroy Smart and the late Gregory Isaacs.

“In terms of Leroy, yuh know seh Leroy Smart, him was very up and down, and very maximalist, and so there is constant language of pattern, pattern, pattern, pattern, even though him in his traditional suit … On top of that, him affipon on a whole heap of cargo (big, heavy necklaces) and glasses and hat … At the other end, you have a Gregory Isaac … the cool ruler (a minimalist),” Hall remarked.

The launch concluded with a viewing of the exhibits, including Clarks shoes, and dancehall entertainment, billed ‘Inna Dancehall Style’, from students of the School of Drama at the EMCVPA. The show continues until the end of May.

“While Dancehall is globally recognised for its music and dance, its contribution to fashion and personal identity is just as significant, shaping how Jamaican men present themselves both locally and internationally. This exhibition is mounted to document, analyse, and celebrate the evolution of male fashion in Dancehall, demonstrating how style has been used as a powerful form of communication, status, and rebellion,” McGlashen-Miller also said.

“This exhibition is designed to teach the current and next generation about the significance of style within this cultural movement. It aims to highlight how Jamaican men have crafted unique identities through fashion, blending tradition with bold self-expression. Male fashion in Jamaica has always been more than just clothing, it is a statement of identity, resistance, and power.”