Kaj Designs EPK 2010

inspired by the eclectic landscape of the Caribbean, Kaj Designs reflects an appreciation of the

indigenous with contemporary boldness and unabashed sensuality.

In Kaj clothing and accessories, nature’s simple beauty mixes with a modern attitude of

individualism and high personal style. Lines are daring, embellishments are chunky, and raw

fabrics are touchable, all in rich vibrant hues.

The Kaj concept channels the dynamism of diverse cultures into classy, avant-garde designs

that speak of confidence, self-respect and independence.

Kaj Designs

( “...inspired by the eclectic landscape of the Caribbean...”

)

Kaj Designs For media inquiries, please contact: 35 Friends Field Road, Liza Miller, Director of Public Relations, Caribbean Scarborough, Trinidad & Tobago Estuary Public Relations (868) 639-6Kaj(6525) (868) 761-1195 [email protected] [email protected] www.kajdesigns.net www.estuarypr.com

Dive into a sea of undulating fabrics as you feel the kiss of a gentle ocean breeze in Kaj Designs’ first-ever resort offering, Shore Culture. Kaj’s latest creations invite you home to a landscape of sun-kissed iridescence peppered with the textures and tones reminiscent of the Caribbean.

Ribbons of ombré and tie-dyed chiffons, silk rayons, silk satins, organzas and crepe georgettes lavishly drape the feminine contour highlighting the sensual silhouette with subtle details in suede, leather, taffeta, coque and pheasant plumes, and coconut shell.

Give way to whimsy and spontaneity in Kaj’s Shore Culture creations that transform from daytime to evening. Let your day take you where it may from poolside brunches to evening cocktails with a floating asymmetrical twist to the traditional caftan, khalat and tunic.

Kaj takes you on an exotic tour of the Caribbean with natural tones of sand, rust, green, azure and royal blue in the Macaw-inspired pieces of In D’ Bamboo. Toast the islands with rich splashes of plum, lemon and teal in Kaj’s cocktail concoction, Isletini. Take a dip in a deep blue sea

of glistening indigo and azure in Indigo Sands. Experience vibrant coral, fuchsia and navy hues in the wispy lounging creations of Island Blush. While magenta, burgundy, slate blue and slate grey cascade about the body in the Bohemian Wrapsody that is Magenta Falls. Finally, enter the airiness of Twilight with overflowing evening dresses of lavender, aqua and slate blue.

Kaj Designs welcomes you to the Caribbean with all its’ scintillating charms as Shore Culture sets sail on the catwalk at Caribbean Fashionweek (CFW) in jamaica this june.


Launched in 2005 by self-taught designer, Kevin ayoung-julien, as a boutique operation producing custom-made one-of-a-kind pieces, Kaj Designs debuted its premiere collection, Chachalaca, another name for Tobago’s native bird, the Cocrico.

Backgrounder


Trademark pieces were featured at the 2005 Caribbean Fashionweek (CFW) in jamaica and the 2005 Caribbean Fashion Rhythms in Barbados. With its combination of feathers, coconut shell and burlap reflecting the Cocrico’s majestic appearance and muted natural colours, Chachalaca garnered Kaj the attention of regional fashion critics and designers with its work featuring in fashion publications including SHE Caribbean Magazine and Barbados’s, Shabeau Magazine. Chachalaca was closely followed with Mwangaza the label’s sophomore collection which graced the runway at Trinidad and Tobago’s 2006 Makin’ Style.

In 2007, Kaj once more impressed the CFW audience with its presentation, Eccensual: Shake Well & Stir. The Caribbean’s lush landscape and diverse cultures served as inspiration for this Kaj offering where the rich tones, hypnotic rhythms and the deep sensuality and exoticism of the islands met the eccentricities of high fashion. Basking in Eccensual’s widespread publicity, the label was featured in Britain’s daily newspaper, The Independent; the US magazine, Sister 2 Sister; New York’s West Indian newspaper, New York Carib News; Guadeloupe’s newspaper, La Gazette Des Caraïbes; Caribbean airlines’s in-flight magazine, Caribbean Beat; Primaris airlines’s in-flight magazine, Caribbean LIFE; and the international fashion publication, Ocean Style. Later that year, the label’s couture swimwear featured at the 2007 Miss World pageant as Grenada’s representative, Vivian Burkhardt, sought out Kaj’s work to complete her wardrobe.

Kaj’s most recent collection, WILD THINGS, featured at the 2008 Fashion Week Trinidad and Tobago (FWTT) while select pieces featured at a private showing during the 5th Summit of the americas which was held in Trinidad and Tobago in april 2009. Signature couture pieces awakened feline senses with indulgent infusions of safari and animal print, teasing sensibilities

with asymmetric cuts, plunging necklines and layered draped skirts that revealed touchable bare skin. WILD THINGS received extensive exposure in Trinidad and Tobago’s media including a feature in the Tobago House of assembly’s (THa’s) tourism magazine, Tobago Style. International recognition came from New York’s exclusive publication, Ins & Outs, which featured the striking animal-inspired collection in its 2008 summer editorial spread.

Faced with an insatiable demand for his creative genius and limited production capacity, 2009 became a year of transformation for Kaj. at this time, Kevin focused on restructuring his business in the interest of ensuring the company’s long-term viability and growth. To this end, his friend, publicist and business consultant, Liza Miller, a leading marketing consultant for the Caribbean’s creative industries through her own firm Estuary Public Relations, joined his team as General Manager. This progression seemed natural given Liza’s intimate knowledge of the brand, which she gained through Estuary’s three-year business relationship with Kaj. While Kaj’s creations were strategically absent from major fashion runways throughout 2009, Trinidad and Tobago’s Carnival season saw the label’s work featured at all-inclusive events island-wide as Carib models sported Kaj creations in the promotion of Carib Brewery’s 2009 Brew House campaign. 2009 drew to a close with SaSHa New York, one of Tobago’s most exclusive boutiques, carrying select designs from Kaj’s couture line.

Equipped with a deliberate approach; a refocused vision; consolidated operations; and a diversified portfolio including promotional design conceptualisation/styling and resort wear, Kaj is poised to become a local and regional leader in the design and production of avant-garde couture garments. Caribbean audiences can look forward to Kaj’s first-ever resort collection, Shore Culture, at CFW this june.

as Creative Director, Kevin’s steely determination, meticulous nature and commitment to the highest of standards, have allowed him to carve a niche in both the local and regional fashion markets. at the age of 30, with a mere 5 years of design experience, the raw talent of this Tobago native has caused members of the Caribbean’s fashion circles to stop and pay notice to his art.

The designer is driven to create. He exists to do so. Nothing provides him greater joy. It is his passion. His discerning eye explores every line and cut of his pieces ultimately concerned with the visual impact of his works as he steadfastly pushes himself to perfection. He is the man behind Kaj Designs, a line of clothing and accessories embodying his appreciation for Caribbean culture and its diverse heritage.

When Kevin started working at the craft store around the corner from secondary school in his native Tobago, he felt he was in heaven. With his natural flair for design and affinity for colour and different fabric textures, the shop’s wide assortment of paints and materials provided the perfect setting to indulge his early creative desires. He’d already been spending most of his free time drawing people in varying clothing styles with different embellishments and material combinations. When the opportunity

came to explore further with fabric paints and appliqués, Kevin proved to be a quick study with uniquely innovative creations.

as the self-taught artist works to refine his design techniques, his ingenuity and enterprising and conscientious approach to his craft and business has not gone unnoticed. In august 2007, he won the noted award for entrepreneurship at the National Youth awards ceremony, which was presented by Trinidad and Tobago’s Ministry of Sport and Youth affairs. In December 2007, he was presented with the Innovation/Invention achiever award by the National Youth action Committee. His skill in the art of costume design was also recognised in Tobago’s 2007 Carnival competition as his creation, Island Spirit paraded by Mickael Franklyn, copped the junior Individual Of The Year title.

Kevin is now looking ahead to the future with a renewed resolve and refocused vision after having spent a significant part of 2009 fine tuning his business operations with the guidance and support of Kaj’s General Manager, Liza Miller. Engrossed in the design and production of his latest and first-ever resort collection, Shore Culture, Kevin is destined to leave an indelible mark on the Caribbean’s fashion sphere.

CEO/Creative Director Kaj DesignsKevin Ayoung-Julien

in 2009, Kevin expanded his team to include the expertise of marketing consultant, dancer, artist and his long-time publicist, Liza. With her signature style Liza brings a plethora of marketing, PR, administrative, organisational and managerial skills to the label. Her entrepreneurial nature paired with her behind-the-scenes knowledge of production management, led to the 2005 launch

of her entertainment management company, Onenessintruth Promotions, in Trinidad and Tobago. She enjoyed success with the creation and production of The Groovin’ Series, a premier live music concert series in Tobago, which featured artists including Mungal Patasar & Pantar, Ken “Professor” Philmore & Friends and the Signal Hill alumni Choir.

In response to the region’s demand for professional, well thought-out and strategic marketing and promotions services Liza launched Estuary Public Relations in 2006. Using her vast and strong relationships with Caribbean media, Liza has helped to push both growing and well-known businesses into public consciousness. Her innovative publicity initiatives have garnered the attention of regional media and members of the creative industries establishing her as one of the region’s foremost public relations consultants. Since 2007 Kaj had used Estuary’s services and enjoyed increased public exposure and widespread publicity in local, regional and international media.

Estuary is best known for its on-going publicity and public relations campaigns for some of Trinidad and Tobago’s leading creative professionals including contemporary modern dance company, the Noble Douglas Dance Company Inc. (NDDCI) and its 2008 tribute to Boscoe Holder, Blanchisseuse; and children’s theatre company, Lilliput Theatre. Past clients have included the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) region’s finalists in the 2009 International Soca Monarch Competition; event management company, The julius Caesar Entertainment Company; menswear designer, Millhouse Menswear; and soca artist, Mr. Slaughter.

She holds a postgraduate diploma with distinction in the arts and Cultural Enterprise Management (aCEM) programme from the University of the West Indies’ (UWI’s) Department of Creative & Festival arts. Due to Liza’s exemplary work in the field of arts and cultural marketing, UWI’s aCEM programme has invited her to host a series of special guest lectures in the area of public relations, publicity and viral marketing for their 2010 class.

With her savvy business sense and passion to make a positive contribution to the development and growth of viable Caribbean creative industries, Liza is determined to take Kaj Designs to limitless success.

Liza Miller General Manager Kaj Designs

indigo sandsasymmetrical ombré evening lounge dress plunges down the back in a sea of indigo and azure silk rayon.

island blushWispy asymmetrical ombré evening cocktail lounges.

Magenta FallsLEFT: Tie-dyed magenta, burgundy and slate blue signa-ture trapeze Deck Shuffle worn as a cowl tunic paired with dark navy cuffed fitted bermuda shorts. RIGHT: Backless layered abstract top with suede collar detail.

Magenta FallsLEFT BaCK: Breezy halter Nymph Evening Dress with daring side slits. FRONT CENTRE: Flowing asymmetrical trapeze cocktail lounge with taffeta bow detail paired with dark navy cuffed fitted bermuda shorts. RIGHT BaCK: Sheer strapless bohemian lounge dress with wooden beaded fabric accents.

Magenta FallsLEFT: Tie-dyed magenta, burgundy and slate blue signa-ture trapeze Deck Shuffle worn as a cowl tunic paired with dark navy cuffed fitted bermuda shorts. RIGHT: Backless layered abstract top with suede collar detail.

Magenta FallsTie-dyed magenta, burgundy and slate blue signature trapeze Deck Shuffle worn as a deck khalat paired with plum and raisin unikini.

Kaj Designs EPK 2010

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