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<figure class="wp-block-image"><img src="https://buzz-caribbean.com/app/uploads/2019/09/Linkage-Dayle-Angus.jpg" alt="Lead designer of Linkage, Dayle Angus" class="wp-image-8390" /><figcaption> Lead designer of Linkage, Dayle Angus </figcaption></figure>
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<p>The island of Tobago brought a ray of sunshine to the
frigid air of the Big Apple last weekend, as one of its leading design houses,
Linkage, showcased its latest collection offering ‘Òkùnkùn’ at the Designers’
Premier during New York Fashion Week 2019. </p>
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<p>Lead designer of Linkage, Dayle Angus, was ecstatic for the unique opportunity to make her debut in the mainstream fashion world.</p>
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<p>“The name of the collection, Òkùnkùn, translates to
centipede in Yoruba. The name was inspired by an incident that I had with an actual
centipede this year,” she laughingly explained </p>
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<figure class="wp-block-image"><img src="https://buzz-caribbean.com/app/uploads/2019/09/Linkage-Dayle-Angus-NY-Fashionweek-1024x681.jpg" alt="Dayle Angus (second left) assists one of her models." class="wp-image-8392" /><figcaption>Dayle Angus (second left) assists one of her models.</figcaption></figure>
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<p>Angus, a graduate of fashion design and fashion merchandising from Marymount University, readily admits that she has an affinity to subtlety and wanted to capture that preference in this collection. </p>
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<p>“The idea was to create an original print especially
for this, which was colourful and Caribbean, yet still had some muted tones to
it,” she said.</p>
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<figure class="wp-block-image"><img src="https://buzz-caribbean.com/app/uploads/2019/09/New-Linkage-Collection-Photoshoot.jpg" alt="A model shows off a piece from Linkage." class="wp-image-8393" /><figcaption>A model shows off a piece from Linkage.</figcaption></figure>
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<p>After connecting with a fashion colleague, Amanda
King, in 2014, King reached out to Angus with the opportunity to showcase for
the upcoming Spring/Summer 2020 season. Angus believes that the authentic
Caribbean experience that speaks through the body of her design work was a true
attraction for the organisers and attendees at the event. </p>
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<figure class="wp-block-image"><img src="https://buzz-caribbean.com/app/uploads/2019/09/Linkage-Purple-Dress-NY-Runway-792x1024.jpg" alt="This Linkage piece brought some Caribbean flavour to New York Fashion Week." class="wp-image-8394" /><figcaption>This Linkage piece brought some Caribbean flavour to New York Fashion Week. </figcaption></figure>
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<p>Since her showcase, Linkage has received a surge of
interest in collection pieces from both women and men. </p>
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<p>“Linkage is constantly evolving, and because my
aesthetic tends to be very geometric or mirrored off of architecture, now it
gives me the opportunity to explore more,” she said.</p>
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<p>With the success of this latest collection, Angus intends to introduce a menswear collection under the fashion house in the near future.</p>
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<p>“As a Tobagonian designer, I think that there is a lot of space for us as Caribbean creatives in the US, and if we can’t find it, we can create it for ourselves,” she said. </p>
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<figure class="wp-block-image"><img src="https://buzz-caribbean.com/app/uploads/2019/09/Linkage-Dayle-Angus-Collection.jpg" alt="Dayle Angus plans to introduce a menswear collection in the future." class="wp-image-8395" /><figcaption> Dayle Angus plans to introduce a menswear collection in the future.</figcaption></figure>
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<p>In recognising New York as a space that appreciates a variety of expressions, Angus – who has only been designing professionally for three years - is hoping that this showcase is the beginning of something greater for emerging designers in the region. </p>
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<p>Òkùnkùn is exclusively available by made to order, and customers can check out www.houseofabeje.com to place orders or visit Linkage’s Facebook and Instagram pages.</p>
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<p>—<em><strong> Written by Tenille Clarke</strong></em> (@tenilleclarke1 on Instagram/Twitter)</p>
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<p><strong><em>Tenille Clarke is an avid wanderlust,
Carnivalist and cultural enthusiast who pens about her ongoing love affair with
travel, culture and entertainment through a Caribbean lens. She is the
Principal Publicist of Chambers Media Solutions and Managing Director of
Industry 360.</em></strong></p>
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