From Sagaboi founder Geoff K. Cooper comes his first clothing collection, entitled “Ramajay”, an eclectic fusion of Cooper’s diverse Trinidadian heritage, and broader West Indian culture and history. Influenced by the iconic outfits of Caribbean calypsonians such as Mighty Sparrow, actors Geoffrey Holder and Harry Belafonte, and men’s style of the Windrush generation, the collection riffs on the military silhouettes and flamboyant tailoring they wore, seamlessly integrated with streetwear silhouettes, and knitwear inspired by materials found in local fishing villages.
The title of the collection – ‘ramajay -’ loosely refers to letting go and breaking away, often in the sense of musical improvisation with the steel pan. At the core of this collection is that same free-spirited exploration of personality seen through a multicultural lens, and played out at the intersection of streetwear, leisurewear, and expressive tailoring. It dances to a steel pan beat, elevated by a distinctive Caribbean colour palette that references the flora and fauna of Cooper’s native Trinidad, as well as the varied Hindu and African ceremonies the designer attended as a child growing up on the island.
The collection is also a love letter to the style of the Windrush generation, which Cooper researched deeply, and was inspired by how the men who suddenly found themselves in a new and decidedly colder environment, evolved their looks with elements of 50s and 60s London fashion.
From the knitwear – all handmade by female crocheters and knitters in the Caribbean – to the classic tailored shapes on suits, to jazzed up denim twinsets, the collection exuded a playful carnival energy throughout.
In outerwear, “rough around the edges” was the intention. Bomber jackets featured Sagaboi’s signature distressed steel pan quilting and coats had beautifully unfinished edges. Kilts were offered in cerulean blue leather and deeply textured black wools. Slogan tees beamed with West Indian colloquial terms and vernacular (e.g. “Big Big Tings”). As for the colours of the collection, it was a sweet dance between idyllic reds, blues, oranges and mint – all grounded by black, brown and white.