"It's like the Academy Awards" explained Heather Jones "It is not a competition, various designers make presentations and at the end of Fashion Week, they will make an award in each category." Jones received the Pret-a-Porter Award, last week Saturday night, for her presentation of 25 'looks' in the Pret-a-Porter (ready to wear) Showcase at the Fall 2002 Collections Fashion Week of the Americas presented by Audi in Miami Beach. There were 27 pret-a-porter designers.
Heather found herself incapable of moving when she heard "for Pret- a-Porter Heather Jones from Trinidad. I was still sitting and smiling. It did not register. They repeated my name and a guy next to me said it is you, get up, congratulations." On stage, she was given the award, a standing ovation, and the microphone. "But I was lost for words. All I could repeat was Thank You, Thank You, and at the time those thank you's were sraight to the bosom of God for people like Mr Fitz Blackman with whom I had learned to sew, and for everyone that ever stood up with me - my mother, my children, my friends" said this proud, single mother of four adult children, and adopted mother of many.
In order to take part in the Fashion Week, Heather had to make a difficult choice. The building she occupies at 35 Eastern Main Road, Barataria, had been sold. "I had to go to do my show. The choice was doing what I had to do and coming back with very little time to do this here or face the consequences. I still haven't found a new place. I am smiling but it is a difficult time" says this very down-to-earth woman who faces challenges on a daily basis but finds the strength from God. "I cannot sit here and lie to you that it is not a hard business."
This was Jones' second appearance at this Fashion Week, the difference being that in 2000, she and four other West Indian designers showed all together in the Caribbean Showcase. And as she says very coolly "Heather Jones was the only person that tarried to the end of this line and I got the award. It was a very proud moment."
About 25 years ago Heather started her own design business. But it was something she had been doing all her life: "In my family everybody can sew. I live this thing in clothes, fashion and sewing, all my life. It is a God-given talent." Jones learned professional tailoring with the late "be-spoke tailor" Fitz Blackman on Independence Square. "He was good, he was a couturier and I had to approach him about three times for an apprenticeship before he said alright but you have got to be here for 7 a.m."
Blackman was a hard taskmaster. "He condemned everything I did. I honestly did not know I was getting better and better as he was very, very hard on me. Everybody else would be saying great, my best work. He would say no. I wanted to be as clean and professional as he was."
Then Jones opened an outlet on the Drag which was at that time on Independence Square south. "One day Mr Blackman saw me in my booth and asked what are you doing here. He refused her application for a job and with the words 'let this be a stepping stone', went on his way. I really, really wish that he was here today."
The forty-two year old woman started as an artist, drawing and painting. And then transferred this talent to her garments. A range of four artists transpose her designs and colours in what she calls "a marriage of hand painting, batik and tye-dye. A mixture so unique and so fresh, so clean that I call it the Spirit of the Caribbean. I say to them pink, blue, a feeling of an orchid with a clean background and they will grasp my concept and materialise it." There have been lots of orders from Fashion Week buyers for garments from Heather Jones of Barataria , who also finds time to do her 9-5 clothes, formal evening wear and the most fabulous brides. "It is challenging but the strength comes from God. I cannot sit here and lie to you that it is not hard."
Heather's inclusion in the recent Fashion Week of the Americas started with Leslie Ann Fahey taking a portfolio and press kits to Miami and making a presentation on her behalf. For the actual Fashion Week, where Heather's only support were Fashey and Lisa Callender of Caribbean Exports in Barbados, Jones had to spend one week in Miami ahead of the show. She looked at about 380 models to make her choice of 16 but "I was lucky and got most of the first I asked for." In the run-up to the show Jones worked with hair stylists and make-up artists to come up with the look she wanted for her line. Also she had the good sense to have walked with her music. Noel La Pierre's "Pan In Meh Blood" which was as lovely and clean as the garments so that we created the perfect ambience."
While other designers walked with an entourage, says Heather "all I had were my dresses which were presented in a very plain, clean and crisp fashion show. No theatrics, no props. Hard work and determination and 25 years of maturity brought me the award."
Always thinking ahead, Jones plans a vintage showing of her past work: "Let my customers bring in older fashions, such as my first coalpot dresses. Some of my clients have wardrobes full of Heather Jones clothes and those who do not have the actual garment can bring in pictures."