Like the athletes who represented ‘the Rock’ with stellar performances at the 2012 Olympics in London, Mission Catwalk Season 2 winner Gregory Williams is ready to make his mark on the European city when he arrives for his studies at the London College of Fashion and master tailor Andrew Ramroop’s Sevile Row Academy next month.
“It’s not that I didn’t know before, but their accomplishments really convinced me that the sky is the limit,” says the 28 year old Cross Roads native. “I just want to go there and give it my all. Jamaica need fi deya pon di fashion map.”
Part of $3m in prizes offered throughout the season, Gregory’s winnings also includes $200,000 worth of sewing equipment from Singer which he has already received. He’s also opened a business account at NCB with a $500,000.00 cash contribution from the bank that will fund his HOD Designs fashion line. Come Fashion’s Night Out (Thursday September 6) fans will get a preview of his designs at SOHO Boutique. The items will be available for sale in December. Also in September, his Mission Catwalk model Sydia Valentine will shoot a fashion spread for OCEAN Style’s December issue. She will walk at Gregory’s London Fashion Week (LFW) presentation in February 2013. The winning prize previously included the chance to show at LFW September 2012.
The show’s host and executive producer Keneea Linton-George explains the change, “When we thought about it, it just made sense. Gregory’s focus should be on school and mastering the skills necessary to become a top-class designer. At the end of our last season, he had to create a collection for Caribbean Fashion Week (CFW) and viewers saw upfront how challenging that was. We want to spare him the pressure and have him focus on his studies which will also take him to Paris.”
Apart from his College of Fashion classes, Gregory will apprentice with Trinidad-born bespoke Tailor Andrew Ramroop who has dressed prominent men including members of the Royal Family, parliamentarians and entertainers such as Jay-Z and Will Smith.
Gregory, a former Saint International model, was considered one of the most outspoken contestants on the 13-episode show, which featured participants from around the region. Voted fan favorite by Jamaican viewers he snagged the title with his cohesive collection of sexy and edgy pieces which he presented at CFW along with three other finalists on June 8. He was announced as winner of the show on June 19.
Since then Gregory has been busy designing for his regular clients, attending fashionable events and contributing to the wardrobe of Miss Jamaica World 2012 Deanna Robins. He also created a look for the Jamaica 50 fashion show at the Jubilee Village in the National Stadium.
Fans will get an update of Gregory's achievements as well as his LFW 2013 presentation on Season 3 of Mission Catwalk. Casting for the show begins in December. For more information visit facebook.com/missioncatwalktv
