Glenroy Marsh is famously creative when it comes to classic, detailed, ensembles, so when his Sankofa by D’Marsh 2020 Fall Collection took over the runway at High School of Fashion Industries, NYC, last Monday, applause flowed from the audience.
Sankofa, he says, means looking back, history that he translated into his collection, showcasing hints of African fabric, after visiting Ghana twice last year, bringing back customs that are similar in many ways to that of Jamaica.
“Most of the slaves that came to Jamaica were from Ghana. Their foods, attitude, and culture are similar, said Marsh, and in the words of Marcus Garvey, “if we don’t look back, then we can never go forward.”
This is the concept the Jamaica-born designer brought to his unique line, etched with piping and embroidery, all from African fabric, to glam-up both male and female outfits.
The show opened with a long line of men, in black customized suits, and separates, trimmed with red and white, D’Marsh’s signature colors.
Some of the pieces were decorated with leather, sequins, and patches of African cloth, and paired with bow ties, and ankle high slacks.
Turban, the designer said, was very influential in the African culture, and as such, it made a fashion statement on the heads of the men as they strut the runway.
He stayed away from a full African fabric, collection, noting that the print has become commercialized, and indeed would have taken away from the simplicity of the designs.
He showed a flowing black gown with asymmetric neckline, trimmed with peach, and ignored the no-white after Labor Day, “diss” — with a close-fitting white dress, finished with a peach cape, as well as an eye-popping floor-length sequin skirt, matched with a white shirt.
A white bridal gown, paired with black blazer, among other alluring creations captured the designer’s consistency, and brilliance, that has kept him in the business for over a decade.
Longtime sponsor, Caribbean Food Delights, teamed up Fashion Mingle, JLC PR, and others to help cement the night’s awesome presentation, that D’March summed up as good fashion, and hard work, not the fast fashion that sells for 20 bucks.
“Designers out there work very hard, he said,” and called for support of independent designers.
The couturier’s bow ties, lotions, and scented candles, garnered attention and could be purchased along with his ready-to-wear collection, at www.dmars
