DUDUS BY JAZZ GRANT
BY ERIN, ELLIE, MIA, FRAN & CHLOE
Christopher "Dudus" Coke, also known as the "Kingston Kingpin," is the notorious longtime leader of the international Shower Posse gang.
Named for its willingness to shower bullets on any crowd thought to contain an enemy, the Shower Posse made a big impression in the 1980s as its members set up shop in cities across the United States killing 1400 Americans in the process.
In 1992, Christopher “Dudus� Coke took place at the head of the besieged family empire, at the young age of twenty-three.
His operation transported drugs to major American cities, sold them for massive profits and purchased weapons on the black market to export back to his native country, Jamaica.
Christopher “Dudus� Coke controlled a state within Tivoli Gardens, on the poor west side of Kingston, Jamaica. He was the man who provided his underlings with free electricity. With schooling and food. He even provided them with the rule of law. His law.
Dudus used his criminal wealth and prosperity to win the hearts of his community and influence their political affiliations. Such power propelled him from a Kingpin to a political pawn, and when the United States government attempted to have the beloved gangster extradited, a civil war broke out to protect him.
THE TIVOLI GARDENS UPRISING 2010
Clovis, Jamaica Observer
Dudus Coke is still on the run, may have changed appearance Friday, 28 May 2010 22:30
The police have issued a new photograph of Tivoli Gardens strongman Christopher 'Dudus' Coke, who is wanted for extradition to the United States on drug and gun trafficking charges.
Thursday, 11 wanted men turned themselves into the police after they were named among 23 most wanted persons. A police source at the St Andrew North Police Division said members of the Common gang appeared shaky when they turned up at the Constant Spring Police Station. Of that number, 12 most wanted men remain at large. Jamaica Observer
At the time of his arrest, The Times reports, "He was dressed like a woman and wearing a wig, police said."
In June 2012, Coke received a 23-year prison sentence after pleading guilty to charges of racketeering conspiracy and conspiracy to commit assault with a dangerous weapon in aid of racketeering
The revelation that Coke moved about Jamaica disguised as a woman has sparked some discussion on the island about the nature and role of powerful "dons" in the broader society. Writing in the Jamaica Observer, columnist Chris Burns notes that while the image of Coke in a woman's wig is at first comical, it also reveals nagging social problems in Jamaica.
No Place Like Home: LGBT youths forced to live in Kingston Sewers. Jamaican Observer, 2013
“Where do we go? Nobody’s knows.”
Graduate Campaign Video
A cascade of ruffles and delicate embroidery adorn the boxy and oversized shapes, imagining “a man adorned in ferociously feminine attire as means of disguise but still withholding an undoubtedly masculine demeanor.�
Target Customer Moodboard
Thug Sensitive, Provocative
Editorials featuring Dudus Collection
Wonderland Editorial Shot by Polly Hanrahan Styled by Rachel Thomas
Pay It No Mind from the Theo White Zine Shot by Stephen Maycock Art Direction & Styling by Theo White
NoWow Magazine Shot by Lilly Wood Styled by Maude van Dievoet & Anastasia Gutnyk
Little Prince in Sicky Mag Styled by Kat Ambroziak
Pay It No Mind from the Theo White Zine Shot by Stephen Maycock Art Direction & Styling by Theo White
Pressure Paris Magazine Preview Shot by Anabel Navarro Styled by Elvija Vitola
Styled by Nathan Klein
Styled by Christina Jones Shot by Stephanie Bonnefoy
Photography by Kaicem Narin Styling by Aiden Connor
Schon Magazine
Vogue x Nike: Amsterdam on Air
Styled by Lisa Megens Creative Direction by Martien Mellema
Advertorial Moodboard
Exaggerated stances, showcasing how masculinity & femininity combine through styling, set design & photography.
Publications - Marfa Journal
“Whether shooting Russian skaters or Gemma Ward backstage at Prada, Colombo’s images are heavy on atmosphere, multi-faceted and utterly distinctive.” Dazed Magazine
Shot by Lea Colombo
Styling by Tom Guinness
"Optimistic thought without action will not fix broken systems.�- Stone
Shot by Matthew Stone
Matthew Stone
Famous for photographing Bob Marley and the Sex Pistols, Dennis Morris explores “growing up black� in his photography.
Shot by Dennis Morris
“Kristin-Lee Moolman captures her subjects in a series of photographs inspired by the androgyny of 80s township culture� Dazed Magazine
Shot by Kristin Lee- Moolman
Shot by Kristin Lee- Moolman
Kristin Lee-Moolman
Kristin Lee- Moolman
“Thug Sensitive”
Kristin Lee- Moolman
Cast:
Don Lee (Elite Models)
HEIGHT 189cm CHEST 95cm SHOES 44.5 HAIR Dark Brown EYES Brown
Cast:
Leo Hoyte-Egan (Storm Models)
HEIGHT 6’2” - 188cm Suit Size 38 Chest Size 34” - 97cm Shoe Size 11 Hair Colour Dark Brown Eye Colour Brown
Cast:
Shamel Kendrick (Storm Models)
HEIGHT 188cm CHEST 98cm SHOES 12 HAIR Dark Brown EYES Brown
Cast:
HEIGHT 188cm CHEST 98cm SHOES 12 HAIR Dark Brown EYES Brown
Dudus Photographic Campaign Analyse benefit to cost ratio
attempts to engage with customers and prospects to convince them your products or services outdo the value of what your competitors offer.
Promotional Technique Campaign An advertising campaign is a series of advertisement messages that share a single idea and theme which make up an integrated marketing Ensures communication
correct message is promoted through own brand campaign
help raise the visibility of the brand & products & engaging with people who gravitate toward your brand enhances your opportunities for sales
DUDUS LAUNCH PARTY
Potential media coverage for the collection via influential attendees; bloggers, editors, artists etc
Promotional Technique Fan Fair A big launch involving a concentrated burst of media investment across multiple channels
Collaborating with an already existing club night generating further brand exposure and wider breadth of audience Increased social media presence through hashtags and images from the event initiating fanfare via instagram, twitter etc Potential to be expensive - However eliminating the risk by collaborating with Dalston superstore to host the event for free Unsustainable - This will be a one off event to increase exposure for Jazz Grants collection and create momentum
“I maintain that London's LGBT scene is a vibrant as ever�
It has served as a truly welcoming queer space for gay people, straight people, trans people and just about everyone else since it opened in 2009
“Lively and unashamedly well dressed�
Dalston Superstore is located on the ever-bustling Kingsland Road and its trashy, cultural and fringe curation has been keeping the East London party scene dancing for the best part of a decade.
MUSIC.ART.CULTURE
ART HOLE PRESENTS: Emma Rudge
Seven years of East London nightlife The bar acts as an exhibition space, showcasing edgy works from local artists and beyond.
Kim Howells X Dalston Superstore
Art Archive, Dalston Superstore
MUSIC: DISCO FUNK & SOUL “Soul music is true to its name. It's music that connects to your soul, your spirit.”
MUSIC: DISCO FUNK & SOUL “Soul music is true to its name. It's music that connects to your soul, your spirit.”
SET LIST ● 8.00-8.30 - Guest arrival (Photographer to take images as guest arrive) ●
8.30-8.40 Jazz welcomes guests to event and introduces collection ●
8.40-8.50 - showcase of durimel brothers video of homosexuality in the Caribbean
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8.50-9 Guest speaker, Glenroy Murray (policy and advocacy manager for J-Flag) 9.00-2.30 onwards - Dudus x Disco Spritz
“YOU CAN EVEN DANCE ON THE BAR.”
Promotional Technique Movement Developing something that people want to support
Create positive connotations for both parties by promoting the charity J-Flag supporting the LGBT movement Progressive media attention for LGBT movements and rights particularly in Jamaica Provides a more emotive connection for the brand and its consumers Increased social media coverage linked to both Jazz and the J-Flag Charity, due to the large social media presence of the attendees Expensive for overseas attendees i.e (those from Jamaica) therefore potentially would have to raise funds for travel
DUDUS FOR J-FLAG (THE MOVEMENT)
J-FLAG is the first human rights organisation in the J-FLAG promotes the values of all-inclusivity, history of Jamaica to serve the needs of LGBT peoples diversity, equality, fairness, and love and over time it became the first port of call for the media, resulting in J-FLAG assuming the role of the mouthpiece for the LGBT community.
MISSION: To promote social change by empowering the Jamaican lgbt community & build tolerance for and acceptance of the lgbt community by the wider Jamaican society
Guests will be asked to make a voluntary donation to non-profit organisation J-Flag helping the Jamaican LGBT community.
PROMOTIONAL MATERIAL
Launch location: Dalston Superstore, 117 Kingsland High Street E8 2PB Guestlist: 120 influential people in the creative industry To include: Isabella Burley - Editor in Chief of Dazed & Confused Richard Mortimer - Editor in Chief at Rollacoaster magazine Glenroy Murray - Policy and Advocacy Manager at J-FLAG Jalan and Jibril Durimel - Photographers - created film about Homosexuality in the Caribbean Ray Blck - Up & Coming artist - supports the Jamaican LGBT movement - included in her video to ‘Chill Out’ The Gully Queens - Shadiamond, Mindy, Beyonka, and Sasha - Transgender women from Kingston, featured in Ray BLK’s ‘Chill out’ Music video Carleene Samuels - Kingston Based Producer
DUDUS TAKES THE WORLD BY STORM Young up and coming menswear designer Jazz Grant is releasing her latest collection, inspired by an unusual and somewhat controversial figure. Taking cues from Caribbean culture, Jazz’s clothing range uses denim and ruffles to encapsulate the spirit of renowned Jamaican drug lord Dudus who was known for his violent crimes and global drug exportation. However using his criminal wealth to enhance the lives of those in the poor Tivoli community; Dudus became a hero to the Jamaican people. When finally captured in 2010, Dudus had cunningly disguised himself as a woman, a trend embraced by many Jamaican gangsters. The irony of this despite the homophobic attitudes still expressed so strongly throughout Jamaica inspired Jazz to create the collection. “My project aims to capture this character – imagined as a man adorned in ferociously feminine attire as means of disguise but still withholding an undoubtedly masculine demeanour.” (Jazz Grant) Comprising of 6 outfits, the collection reinvents the classic denim jacket and jean combo in sloppy silhouettes adorned with ruffles, antique lace and fringing. It also draws upon older feminine characteristics of fashion in terms of colour; musty pastel pinks, greens and mottled golds complement denim blues.
The Dudus collection will launch on the 21st of June at the locally celebrated Dalston Superstore, in collaboration with their disco, soul and funk night ‘Disco Spritz’. The evening will comprise of an exclusive preview of the collection for the attendees, hosted by Jazz Grant. In conjunction with this guests will also view the evocative new film created by the Durimel brothers portraying homosexuality in the Caribbean. In response to the video the Durimel brothers state “It doesn't need to be radically political. A big part of what we want to do is just present something and say that this lifestyle, these choices, this perspective, exists. If people see that something exists, then they can slowly learn to accept it.” Through the collection Jazz also aims to raise awareness of this prominent issue in Jamaica. Despite being denied basic human rights, and facing up to 10 years of imprisonment due to the criminalization of homosexuality, LGBT activists are still working to combat the ongoing presence of Homophobia in their communities. The Dudus X Disco Spritz night will see appearances from the Gully Queens, the Transgender Women who have been defying Jamaica’s culture of homophobia throughout the past decade. Welcome donations to the J-Flag charity, promoting social change towards the LGBT community, can be made on the evening. There will be attendance from guest speaker, Glenroy Murray the charity's policy and advocacy adviser.
Conclusion Understanding target audience as creative figures, exclusively menswear Using the Dudus narrative & projecting the social issues surrounding his capture dressed as a woman Used drawings, collages and different ways to visualise these ideas surrounding masculinity & femininity Once highlighting movements & causes, effectively evaluated different & relevant media and promotion techniques Explanation of purpose of action through press release