“My focus is on celebrating the untapped stories of my culture and amplifying them on a global scale,” says Jamaican artist and designer Francesca Lake. “It’s important to establish a brand that is deeply rooted in an authentic version of my culture and the continuation of those stories through the exportation of Jamaican culture by Jamaicans.” And with studios in both London and Kingston, she’s using all of the tools at her disposal to do so. Lake grew up in Jamaica and followed her BA in Cultural Studies at the University of the West Indies with a move to the UK to obtain an MA from Central Saint Martins and now harnesses her skills in ceramics, film, prose and, of course, fashion, to pursue her mission. “My aim is to provide an emotive and visceral experience that adds to the tapestry and representation of Jamaica in the fashion industry and the arts,” she adds.

When it comes to her eponymous label, Lake uses striking silhouettes that are as bold as they are unapologetic. But these gregarious forms belie the intricate work that’s gone into their construction, with each piece crafted mainly by the designer herself. “The shapes I create are an external representation of our poised, loud, proud, braggadocious, confident personality,” she says. “They take up space in a figurative and literal manner. I explore notions of opposites and contradictions, all with the intention of celebrating the things that protect us and make us who we are.”

Graduating from St Martins last year with her AW23 offering ‘Church and the Dancehall’, the collection “exists as a conceptual exploration of the origins and evolution of our modesty and badness within a conservative yet explicit society.” Now comes her PF24 collection ‘Cross Roads’ to continue the journey, referring both to the literal thoroughfare of Kingston and “representing the everyday experience of the intersecting of dual paths.” Playing with conflicting tropes such as batty rider pants and prim church hats, these looks revel in the regal and the vulgar while defying both notions.

Lake’s lyrical ode to Jamaica continues in the powerful film and photography that captures her collections. She both shoots her own images and has collaborated with dear friends Nathan Haddad and Storm Saulter. Two years in the making, her recently released zine features a series of shoots – on barrel culture, school uniforms, and more – that add depth to the brand’s conceptual evolution. “Image making is a very big part of how I communicate the strength, struggle, triumph and humour of the Jamaican experience,” she reflects. It’s also important for her to work with a range of fellow local artists across all disciplines. ‘Cross Roads’ sees collaborations with dancehall queen, Carlene Smith, and party sign typographer Nurse Signs. “Working with Jamaican talent remains a priority, so that the things we create do not exist solely within the incubator of the island itself, but that we as Jamaicans are able to export our culture on a global scale.”

See ‘Raven’, a fashion story on Nataal with Francesca Lake here.

Francesca Lake’s PF24 collection will be soon-come to her website here.