DESIGNER JULIETTE ZELIME CAPTURES THE ESSENCE OF HER SPICE ISLAND HOME IN SHOW STOPPING FASHION.

DESIGNER JULIETTE ZELIME CAPTURES THE ESSENCE OF HER SPICE ISLAND HOME IN SHOW STOPPING FASHION

Seychelles talent Juliette Zelime shows how artists make for natural designers.

Living fifteen hundred kilometres from their mother continent of Africa, citizens of The Seychelles have long had to make do with what’s there and that creative spirit is the secret to their success.

We met with one such young and creative individual – Juliette Zelime. A Fashion Designer and Visual Artist who founded Kaju Seychelles.

“Art is in our blood. That is what we all practice here, even if it’s part-time only,” comments Juliette.

Juliette studied fine art and did her master’s degree in visual communication, art and design in China.

“Growing up I’ve always seen my grandma and my mother sewing and they would ask me if I would like to learn. I never wanted to learn back then but now I see the relevance of it.”

Her line reflects the archipelago’s history as a centre of seafaring, the Indian Ocean spice trade and never to be forgotten, the pirates who prey on it.

Her island-inspired designs are ones which her mother Marlene Zelime got to see on the runway at the 4th Seychelles Fashion Week. Having been away from home a few years, this has been Ms. Zelime’s first chance to show at Seychelles Fashion Week.

Juliette’s design philosophy is the island philosophy – fun, carefree, optimistic, creative, green and healthy. Her fashion timing is spot on as well. Her latest floral designs and motifs around cinnamon are a theme which hasn’t been seen in local fabrics and it’s just in time for a rebirth in the fortunes of the spice.

Exports from the islands are up and they now have a homegrown, ever so stylish cheerleader.

Juliette is exciting other art students to see a market in fashion and use local skills to make work for fellow islanders. A habit of lifting others which marks this young talent out for greatness.