00:00The following is brought to you by L'Oreal, Maybelline, and Garnier.
00:11Do you ever feel like class has been compromised in the pursuit of fashion?
00:16Well, if you do, you're not alone. And if it's up to this local fashion designer,
00:21things like broad hats and stockings will make a permanent comeback.
00:25Meet Ronika Alice of Major Nix Couture. How are you doing today?
00:29I'm fine, thank you.
00:30Tell us about the lovely thesis presentation you have behind us.
00:33So, I would have recently completed my senior thesis at UTT,
00:38known as the CAFD Caribbean Academy for Fashion Design,
00:42and I completed my BFA in Fashion Design.
00:45When I did my collection, it was basically a tribute to my grandmother.
00:50She played an integral role in terms of where I am today.
00:54You know, when I did this collection, I looked back at the 1940s, 50s, and 60s,
00:59where I think my grandmother would have been in her prime, you know, probably around my age as well.
01:05And these were the silhouettes that I drew inspiration from in order to come up with my collection.
01:10So, the collection is reminiscent of the 1900s, but we're in 2026.
01:14Tell me, what has been the response to this present?
01:17Well, surprisingly, everyone has enjoyed this collection to the max,
01:23in terms of, you know, seeing that regal element, seeing those old silhouettes,
01:28seeing something that looks familiar, but we never had the opportunity to experience.
01:34So, for the men or the women wearing these types of pieces, what would you say the look represents?
01:40The look represents class.
01:43The look represents regal.
01:46It represents royalty.
01:47It represents luxurious, bespoke.
01:50You know, all of those are very creative words that you could come up with in terms of just wealth,
01:57status, you know.
01:58And at the end of the day, I always say the way you dress is the way you are addressed,
02:04right?
02:04And I always believe in showing up in a room, looking a particular type of way.
02:10A lot of people feel like color and class and sophistication are not synonymous.
02:15And you sit in front of me, half of your hair is bright pink, but you are very well presented.
02:20Talk to me about balancing things like color, perhaps even showing some skin and still maintaining a very classy appearance.
02:29Right.
02:29So, for me, as a designer, I always believe in time and place.
02:33That's something that we learned in terms of growing up in the Caribbean.
02:39There is always a time and a place.
02:41So, for an interview, we wear our dark colors and we keep our hair back and we wear our little
02:46lipstick and we keep it very dainty.
02:48And then, probably, you could go to the next extreme of Carnival and when you watch people on Tuesday, you
02:53wonder, where did the class go, you know.
02:55But for me, as an individual, I believe both fashion and style is very individualistic.
03:02It's very expressive.
03:04And for me, personally, it's just showing who you are.
03:08So, yes, less is more, more is more as well, you know.
03:12And I am the more is more type of person.
03:15So, do you feel as though there needs to be a mindset change, a culture shift in the way that
03:21we view style and fashion?
03:23I would say yes, especially, like, in the workplace and stuff.
03:27Why does it have to be so rigid?
03:29Why does it have to be so cast in stone?
03:32Could we just take that colonial aspect out of it?
03:36This wear black all the time or wear navy blue or wear dark colors?
03:40Dark colors are depressing.
03:42They really are.
03:43I mean, you would get away with a little beige.
03:45But, you know, at the same time, put the effort into it.
03:49And honestly, again, the way that you dress makes you feel good.
03:53So, what does Major Knicks Couture offer that is separate and different from the rest?
03:58So, this is a two-piece outfit that was designed by me.
04:03I love this outfit simply because there is hand-beading to the front of this garment.
04:08It's also a wrapped shirt, if you can tell me, that has a cute little bow in the back that
04:15gives a very feminine yet elegant perspective to the top.
04:21At Major Knicks Couture, I really do love very large colors.
04:26So, as you can see, we have an oversized color here that's adding a bit of drama to the garment,
04:31along with these lovely cuffs.
04:35As we move on to the skirt, this skirt is actually a non-traditional fabric.
04:42This is actually what we would call the long-time crockers bag.
04:47I really wanted to use this material.
04:49It's called jute.
04:51And in this jute, this jute came printed in the animal print.
04:55And what I did to add a bit of element to the garment is that I added some of what
05:00we call grommets.
05:01And we see them in our curtains.
05:03But, you know, we can use anything as inspiration or an element of design in any garment.
05:11So, guys and gals, as Major Knicks said, dress the way you'd want to be.
05:17I'm Renessa Cutting, and this was Street Style.
05:19We'll see you again next week, Thursday.
05:27The preceding was brought to you by L'Oreal, Maybelline, and Garnier.
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