Ramsey and Jade
Type of Place: Designers
Description:
I received a fashion-show invite out of the blue a few weeks ago. I
didn't know the design line that had sent it and wasn't sure how
they'd found me; but, up for discovery, I was happy to attend. Good thing
I did: The show turned out to profile several exciting designers whose
work I'm glad to know about. I'll be spotlighting them over the
next few columns.
Cuban American sister duo Ramsey and Jade are based in South Florida,
but their spirited and energetic work would look right in any
cosmopolitan town; I could imagine them a big hit in London or Tokyo or
L.A., and they made a great impression here with their New York debut, selling
one of their show's pieces right off the runway.
Ramsey was born in Havana; by the time Jade arrived, the family had
settled near Miami. Neither sister has formal design training; they
learned their skills from watching their maternal grandmother, now 84, who
was trained as a designer in Cuba, although, Ramsey points out, "Jade
used to design for her Barbies."
This collection, inspired by the late, beloved supermodel Gia Carangi
(a victim of AIDS), was called "She's a Rebel," and it lived up to the name. The duo opened the show with a model in pigtails, a cute
peplum jacket, and some of the highest heels I've ever seen - not perhaps, the most suitable look for their beloved grandma, or anyone's
grandma, but a definite attention grabber. Other hits were a sexy white
sundress with a blue-sparkle belt and matching shoes; a sporty hoodie
paired with iridescent pants; a sparkley shirt accessorized with striped
kneesocks; plaid pants with a striped vest (if the sisters have any fear
of mixing patterns, they didn't show it); a purple and black suit
with gloves and fishnets; a classic black halter top worn with feisty
silver heels; a strapless bodice top paired with a purple flounced
miniskirt; and a halter top patterned after the British flag. Whew!
Getting to know the sisters' philosophy off the runway was as
refreshing as seeing their gutsy designs. "I was in the music business as an
Artist Manager/Producer for over 20 years," says Ramsey. "I got
sick of the backstabbing and the corruption in the music business. When
you're on the inside, you see everything! I just wanted to be creative
and close to my Grandmother at the same time. We both do." And
they're giving back in ways that matter to them: Some of the proceeds from
their work have gone to benefit the charitable Gia Carangi Foundation.
Furthermore, their bio states that "Ramsey and Jade enjoy spending
time with family, friends, and their pets which is why they do not use
real fur in the making of their clothes." Can I get an amen to that?
Can I get a thousand amens?!
If you're hungry for your own Ramsey and Jade piece, the duo can be
contacted via their MySpace page for made-to-order work. And they're
planning to open their own shop in South Beach, but I predict that
their designs will be in NYC shops in the near future for even more
immediate access. The bottom line here: Right on, sisters.
- Pamela Grossman; Sept 30, 2007
Ramsey and Jade
Fashion Week 2007
New York, NY
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