By Frances Solá-Santiago
When you hear "Caribbean style" you might think of sandals, beach hats, and maxi dresses. But luxury fashion has a long history of drawing inspiration and borrowing techniques from the region and its diaspora.
Take, for example, small independent brands channeling the flags and slang of their home countries or established fashion designers that make sartorial springboards of their childhood memories, like legendary designers Oscar de la Renta and Isabel Toledo, who often cite their Caribbean home countries as reference.
But a new generation of talent is spotlighting the Caribbean landscapes and histories through clothes and accessories. And, thanks to organizations like the Council of Fashion Designers of America, which has supported emerging Caribbean-American designers through the CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund, and the Latin American Fashion Summit, which recently held a three-day conference, titled "Raíces" in the Dominican Republic, many of them are getting their flowers.
We rounded up some of our favorite Caribbean-owned brands and designers to celebrate their impact in the fashion space. Here are 24 labels you’ll want to know (and shop!) in 2023.
