Bianca Saunders unveils fashion collection inspired by Lee ‘Scratch’ Perry

KINGSTON, Jamaica — British-Jamaican menswear designer Bianca Saunders recently unveiled her Spring/Summer 2024 collection titled “SCRATCH.”

In collaboration with designer Farah Naz, the collection is inspired by eccentric Jamaican musician and producer Lee “Scratch” Perry, known for his boldness and eclectic style.

Saunders revealed that following consultations with Perry’s estate in Switzerland, she incorporated material from Perry’s Ark archives.

The Ark Archive is a detailed and varied collection of photographs and writings from the Black Ark studio in Kingston, Jamaica, which has created an enduring visual counterpart to Perry’s vast musical catalogue.

While taking inspiration from Perry, Saunders used a tailoring style that borrows heavily from Jamaican hotel uniforms, citing that she was influenced by photographs taken by Bradley Smith in the 1940s of staff at an upscale Jamaican resort.

The collection, which features a square stitching technique, bold island colors and a plethora of textures, retails for between £200.00 and £1,000.

Saunders, who recently won the BFC/GQ Designer Fashion Fund with prize money of almost £100,000, plans to further expand her brand into North American markets.