Mission Catwalk is a reality TV series set in Jamaica aimed at discovering and developing talented fashion designers. The show recently announced the winner of it’s second series, which was opened up to designers across the Caribbean. The design drama that each episode entails has raised its profile and the show has gained popularity across the Caribbean. We ask Executive Producer and Host Keneea Linton-George about the overall mission.

Why did you launch Mission Catwalk and what’s it all about?

I launched Mission Catwalk in March 2011 on Jamaica’s popular news and entertainment channel TVJ as a means to promote local fashion designers. I wanted to provide them with the opportunity to gain international exposure and additional support, training and funding.

Design by Gregory Williams winner of Season 2 – judged by resident judges Novia McDonald-Whyte and Carlton Brown

Winner season 1 Shena Carby (L) Keneea-Linton-George and Winner season 2 Gregory Williams (R)

But you are also a fashion designer?

Yes, and I still am, but my passion for the industry goes beyond creating garments for my clients. I’ve been involved in TV productions and designing simultaneously for the past four years so I decided to use my skills and resources to produce a show that would promote and build the local fashion industry. The response to Mission Catwalk has been overwhelming. Jamaica is very fashion forward and very receptive to a program of this nature.

Keneea receives her applause alongside her sister Kenisha Linton at Caribbean Fashion Week 

Full cast including designers across the region from episode 2

Why have you gone from representing Jamaican designers to designers across the Caribbean?

The pilot season focused on Jamaica simply to test the market and garner support, but it has always been our aim to go Caribbean wide. Having a design competition that included designers across the region gave us a wider pool of talent to choose from and allowed our diverse viewers to identify with the different characters found in the Caribbean. Ultimately we want to promote a unified approach to Caribbean fashion because I believe we can have greater impact as a region.

There are great benefits for winners of the show, was it easy getting support from Government agencies and/or sponsors in Jamaica and other islands?

Garnering support for the first season was challenging however, the success of season one has prompted support from a number of corporate sponsors and Jampro. However, there is still more to be done to attract government support for the industry.

Up-coming designers like Crystal Powell competing in Mission Catwalk had the opportunity to create full collections and showcase them at Caribbean Fashion Week. 

What is the over-all Mission?

The over-all mission is to provide the training, opportunity and exposure needed to allow our Caribbean designers to compete and have a presence in the international market.

Watch episodes of Mission Catwalk here