The Evolution of Jessel Brizan Design Group

by Jessel Brizan | VALSAYN, Trinidad and Tobago | 10 June 2026

 

The following article is excerpted from a newsletter disseminated to our subscribers.

Dear Valued Family,

I wanted to take a moment to be honest, open and transparent about our apparent hiatus from the world of fashion.

The past eight years have been marked by several profound experiences, underscored by immeasurable personal, professional and financial sacrifice—from walking away from the programme I helped to build at the Caribbean Academy of Fashion and Design to shuttering the Blue Basin platform and pausing the manufacturing, marketing and merchandising of our fashion brands. Since 2019, we have diversified our portfolio to include creative, learning and publishing services.

Despite my past initiatives to help establish a sustainable, globally competitive local fashion industry, I feel my efforts have largely gone unappreciated and undervalued. Even as I write this message, I am filled with doubt because, based on experience, my words will fall on deaf ears or blind eyes. And though I am no pessimist, this has severely hindered my motivation to engage with stakeholders, both foreign and domestic.

Additionally, based on the analytics, I have observed fluctuations in the performance of our email and social media campaigns over the past two decades. This has led to speculation about the following:

  • Our brand identity, storytelling, content, and offerings are not compelling.

  • Some entities have become disinterested in our brand(s) and content.

  • Some entities are simply unresponsive to our messaging.

  • Some entities are mere spectators.

  • Some messages go directly to the spam folder.

  • Some entities represent brands that are merely keeping abreast of the competition.

Even after this message, I understand that some of you may choose to unsubscribe. We acknowledge, accept and respect your right to do so.

It would be remiss not to acknowledge our past neglect of our genuine supporters. We acknowledge our failure to create, communicate, and deliver value to our loyal customers in an innovative, effective, efficient, and consistent manner. We also acknowledge our failure to actively engage with and build and maintain a mutually beneficial relationship with our community.

Nonetheless, we are thankful to those of you who have distinguished yourselves as genuine supporters of our work and the impact we have had on fashion in Trinidad and Tobago and the Caribbean region.

  • JBDG is the first local fashion company to launch an e-commerce platform and handle the sale, fulfilment and shipment of its merchandise globally.

  • Helping establish the first tertiary education fashion programme in the Caribbean.

  • Pioneering curricula in computer-aided fashion design in the Caribbean.

  • Playing a pivotal role in the formation of the first fashion co-operative in the Caribbean region and serving as the inaugural Vice President of The Fashion Exchange Co-operative Society Limited.

  • Founding Blue Basin Department Stores Ltd., the first locally owned retail fashion store concept dedicated to Caribbean fashion and design, to provide a sustainable omnichannel retail platform that connects designers and artisans with customers globally.

  • Collaborating with national and regional agencies, including CEDA, FashionTT and TTBS, to build the capacity of fashion creatives within the Caribbean.

  • Serving on the working committees to develop national standards for fashion design and sustainable garment manufacturing.

As Pastor A. R. Bernard of the Christian Cultural Center in New York repeatedly reiterates, “We grow in community, not in isolation. We are all here to learn, grow and contribute.” JBDG is founded on this principle, which is deeply rooted in our philosophy, ‘Philanthropy Through Fashion’. And when a seed has innately been planted in a spirit of purity, it is difficult to ignore its true source of inspiration.

As the founder and managing director of Jessel Brizan Design Group Ltd., I have consistently pursued personal and professional development to enhance my capacity as a leader, educator and entrepreneur. This is exemplified by my successful pursuit of a 2023 Chevening Scholarship and my completion of an MA in Fashion Business Management at the University of Westminster, London, in 2024.

The Caribbean fashion industry is a dynamic and evolving sector. Despite the influence and growing recognition of Caribbean fashion, the industry still faces systemic issues endemic to the region. As the industry continues to evolve, the future of Caribbean fashion is poised for transformative growth. We acknowledge the critical gap between creativity and commercial viability in the Caribbean fashion industry. In this context, we strive to be a catalyst for positive, productive, and progressive change, and we hope our future initiatives will augur well for the growth and development of Caribbean fashion.

This does not happen without you, our loyal supporters, our family. We would like to invite you to share your honest feedback on our brand ethos, offerings, engagement, and outlook.

The evolution of Jessel Brizan Design Group is inextricably linked to that of its founder and the communities we serve. We hope to reintroduce our range of premium Caribbean luxe brands in the near future.

More importantly, we hope you will continue this journey with us. Thank you.

Sincerely,
Jessel Brizan
Founder

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