Ocho Rios Prepares for Global Fashion Week

Momentum is building ahead of the inaugural Jamaica International Fashion Week (JIFW), as designers, fashion enthusiasts and creative industry professionals from across the globe prepare to converge on Ocho Rios, St. Ann, for a four-day celebration of fashion, lifestyle, culture and international collaboration.

Scheduled for November 19–22, 2026, at Island Village, the historic event will bring together designers representing more than 10 countries, including Ghana, Iceland, Lithuania, London, Nigeria, the Cayman Islands, The Gambia, The Netherlands, Trinidad and Tobago, the United States and host country Jamaica.

Being staged under the theme “When Worlds Collide,” the inaugural fashion experience is the brainchild of Jamaican-born co-founders Latoya McLeary and Carlotta Tate Olason, who envision the event as an international platform for showcasing fashion talent while positioning Jamaica as an emerging destination for fashion tourism and creative investment.

Co-Founder and Creative Director Latoya McLeary says the initiative is about creating an experience that extends beyond the runway, encouraging international visitors to discover Jamaica’s rich cultural heritage, attractions and hospitality.

“We’re inviting patrons and fashion enthusiasts to come for the fashion experience and stay to explore the island and its culture,” McLeary explains.

She notes that the decision to bring designers from such a diverse collection of countries to Ocho Rios is deliberate, reflecting the organizers’ ambition to demonstrate Jamaica’s growing fashion profile and its potential as a destination for international creative enterprise. “By bringing all these countries to be part of the experience in Ocho Rios, we want to demonstrate that Jamaica is building its fashion profile and is worth investing in,” she adds.

For McLeary, the choice of Ocho Rios is equally significant. The organizers are keen to shine a greater spotlight on St. Ann, a parish with an important place in Jamaica’s history and cultural identity.

“We want to bring greater focus to St. Ann, which gave us Marcus Garvey, Bob Marley, Dunn’s River and its many attractions,” McLeary points out.

The event is also attracting support from key figures in the parish and Jamaica’s entertainment industry. Mayor of St. Ann Michael Belnavis, Councillor and Caretaker for the Ocho Rios Division Nicola Hamilton, and entertainer Richie Stephens are among those lending their support to the international fashion experience.

Further strengthening the event’s tourism credentials is the endorsement of the Jamaica Tourist Board (JTB), highlighting the potential for fashion to complement the island’s established tourism offerings while creating new opportunities for cultural exchange and economic activity.

With participating designers bringing different cultural influences, creative perspectives and design aesthetics to the Jamaican stage, Jamaica International Fashion Week promises to be a meeting point for international fashion and Caribbean creativity.

For Ocho Rios, the four-day showcase represents an opportunity to welcome a new international audience, generate interest in the destination and reinforce the connection between tourism, fashion, entertainment and the wider creative economy.

As preparations continue, the inaugural staging with Producer David Blake and Head Hairstylist Ronald Calder is expected to place Jamaica firmly within the conversation on international fashion destinations, while giving local designers and creative entrepreneurs an opportunity to engage with a wider global audience.

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