I Opened a Store in Negril—These Are the Jamaican Fashion Brands You Need to Know
My Sweet Like JAM pop-up was a love letter to Jamaica and Jamaican fashion brands. Here are some of my favorites.
For almost two years, I’ve been dreaming, planning, and executing the launch of my new company, Sweet Like JAM. It's a combination of my travel ethos, my love for exploration, and my career manifesto: telling impactful stories and building bridges of cultural understanding and celebration through commerce and connection.
I've learned many lessons in the process of building Sweet Like JAM, and one thing remained true throughout: “If at first you don’t succeed, dust yourself off and try again.” I worked tirelessly to introduce Sweet Like JAM to the world with a pop-up shop in Jamaica, where I moved four years ago. Over the past year, I've acquired a deep understanding that business success is not linear, and, with time, you can develop things without extreme pressure. So, after a couple of mishaps, I pivoted with an editorial and e-commerce launch, and pushed the IRL store to 2025.
Brick by brick, I focused on putting together a more intentional retail experience with Skylark Negril. It finally came to life as a three-week pop-up celebration of Jamaican fashion. The opening weekend included a bonfire dinner with an acoustic set by my friend, Jamaican songwriter Sarah Couch, welcoming designers and creatives to break bread; a panel on the global impact of Jamaican fashion with designers Edvin Thompson of Theophilio, Bianca Saunders, and Troy Oraine of Tribe Nine Studios; and a beach party that fused music and fashion in such a seamless way, with Jamaican DJs and artists like Zuri Marley and Naomi Cowan.
I curated 35 local and global Jamaican brands, a selection of cultural memorabilia, and lifestyle goods that shoppers could discover in the lobby of Skylark Negril. I wanted this Sweet Like JAM shop to feel like my love letter to Jamaica, after the long and adventurous journey that led me to move to Kingston. Sitting under the Negril sun, sipping a coffee in the Skylark lobby, I saw a Sweet Like JAM sign or shopping bag everywhere I turned. Mission accomplished.
From designers like Diotima and Nicholas Daley to local favorites such as Haveli and Tribe Nine Studios, take a peek into my assortment of brands and pieces I curated for my shop through looks I styled myself in during my pop-up.
First up, I tried on some Bianca Saunders, a British-Jamaican menswear brand. I wore the Netty Top from her Spring 2026 collection, paired with a bikini by Trendzy JA, a Kingston-based resortwear label that creates collections inspired by the tropics. I accessorized with a knitted hat by a local Negril artisan and shoes by 7 Monroe.
Shop other Bianca Saunders pieces.
My second look for the pop-up included pieces by Nicholas Daley, another British-Jamaican brand that has a deep connection to Reggae Rastafari and Roots cultures. I paired his sweatshirt and famous Reggae Klub Tee with a simple white short and trucker hat by Kingston-based Tribe Nine Studios.
Shop other Nicholas Daley pieces.
For my third look, I wore this beautiful blue dress from House of Aama, a Caribbean-American brand that celebrates lineage and ancestral connection through its designs. I paired it with a royal blue bikini from my closet and Miu Miu thong sandals.
Shop other House of Aama pieces.
This tailored dress by Jamaican brand Haveli is so light and breathable, crafted out of luxurious materials. I styled it with a seashell necklace I sourced from a local craft market and my snakeskin Bottega Veneta sandals.
Shop this and other Haveli pieces.
For my last look, I pulled from both the Sweet Like JAM store rack and my own closet. I wore a bag from ASHYA, a brand born from the exploration of the designers' Jamaican roots with a skirt from our first drop collection from Emily Watson. My top was from Dries Van Noten, and the sandals were archival Sies Marjan.
Shop other ASHYA pieces.
