“He has that Black London punk feeling I don’t get from other designers,” adds Claire, who says it’s as if the Caymanian-Jamaican designer has always been in her life. “Jawara has a unique way of working, it’s very process led and all about the body, you can’t rush these things.” Indeed, when we speak just days out from the Fashion Awards, the brown mille-feuille of a dress is still in the construction stages, with a fitting or two to go. No matter: “I have this feeling of safety and complete confidence in what he does. There are so many layers to it, both literally and figuratively, he’s like ice water – so fresh to work with.”
Besides, before Claire can truly get into the zone for the red carpet, she must first Lime bike across the capital shooting digitals for IMG, carve out time for a hot soak and a hot meal (her absolute non-negotiables before a work event), and “lead with what makes her feel good”, with a little help from her tight-knit crew: stylist Nell Kalonji, make-up artist Bea Sweet and hairstylist Ali Pirzadeh. “This is the right dress for the right year,” muses the model, whose effortless street style was the inspiration for a Vogue shopping supplement just a few months ago. “There are many different people in this one outfit – I wanted to feel armoured with fabric.”
While fashion’s big night reflects on the year that’s drawing to a close, a quiet sense of euphoria has already started to seep in regarding 2025. Claire, you see, loves the feeling of renewal: “There’s this fresh breath of opportunity – who knows what it will bring! I look back [on 2024] and didn’t know half the things – personally and professionally – that would unfold. Change is a good thing – we have to remind ourselves.” That feeling is what has always propelled Alva into the light, with like-minded individuals right beside her.
