Calvin 'Moonie' Haye - Curtis Campbell

Dancehall designers Calvin 'Moonie' Haye and White Skyy are plotting to revive dancehall's fashion culture. According to the former trainees of veteran dancehall fashion designers Ouch Crew, dancehall fashion needs a spark of creativity.

Moonie, who recently had his designs featured at the recently concluded Reggae Sumfest, believes the future of dancehall fashion relies on the attention garnered by females in the dancehall.

"Right now females are not getting any endorsement in the dancehall no more. The men dem a out duh the females and naah give them nuh justice. We need dancehall to be more trendy and when more females are going to dances designers will get more inspiration to make better dancehall designs," Moonie said.

The designer added that the rush by patrons to acquire cheap clothing limits their potential to be different.

"Right now most people a guh downtown and buy some cheap things. Then when yu check it out and guh inna the dance everybody wearing the same thing. I designed for Khago, Specialist, Zamunda and I also did some work on Tommy Lee's attire for Sumfest, and Specialist was named best dressed. I was off the scene for sometime but I am back now to give dancehall an image and making artistes look good," he said.

Moonie also gave some advice for fresh dancehall designers.

"Just be more creative and be neat. It is not all about money. the clothes will sell, people will be attracted to it once it's neat and then you will see the returns. Don't just make clothes that people can predict who designed it. Clothes must be spontaneous so that people will be curious and inquire who designed it," Moonie said.

White Skyy designer Martin Miller, who also spoke on behalf of his business partner Kirk Miller, shared similar sentiments as Moonie. White Skyy believes dancehall has gone too name brand.

"Most artistes look like their fans. They don't stand out because it is mostly a name-brand thing. Dancehall needs a team of females to represent the culture. It takes a group of about five females to design or perhaps collaborate with a designer and they can work together and campaign each night in the same way in which a song is promoted so they can create a following and inspire others. That is the only way we can bring back the culture. Right now dancehall is all about men in tight pants and competing for the video light," White Skyy said.

White Skyy recently returned from the US to participate in Saint International's Style Week. they were also featured on New Kingston fashion block. Moonie is currently operating a fashion store called Halfa Moon designs and Spa located at 30 Balmoral Avenue in Kingston.

Designers Kirk (left) and Martin 'Smiley' Miller for White Skyy designs take the runway at the launch of Fashion Face of the Caribbean and the Appleton Avant Garde designer of the year contest 2007, held at Up On The Roof, Knutsford Boulevard, New Kingston on Monday, February 5, 2007. - Winston Sill