Bianca Saunders unveils Lee ‘Scratch’ Perry inspired fashion collection – Jamaica Observer

KINGSTON, Jamaica — British-Jamaican men’s wear designer, Bianca Saunders, recently unveiled her spring/summer 2024 collection entitled, ‘SCRATCH’.

Collaborating with fellow designer, Farah Naz, the collection draws inspiration from the eccentric Jamaican musician and producer Lee “Scratch” Perry, who was known for his boldness and eclectic style.

Saunders revealed that following consultations with Perry’s estate in Switzerland, she incorporated elements of Perry’s Ark archive.

The Ark archive is a detailed and varied collection of photographs and writings from the Black Ark studio in Kingston, Jamaica, which has created an enduring visual counterpart to Perry’s expansive musical catalogue.

While taking creative inspiration from Perry, Saunders utilised a tailoring style that borrows heavily from Jamaican hotel uniforms, citing that she was influenced by photographs taken by Bradley Smith in the 1940s of staff at a high-end Jamaican resort.

The collection which boasts a boxy tailoring technique, bold island colours, and a plethora of textures, retails for between £200.00 and £1000.

Saunders, who recently won the BFC/GQ Designer Fashion Fund which comes with prize money of close to £100,000, has plans to further expand her brand into North American markets.