Jaye Applewaite Transforming Traditional into Top-Tier Trendy

Jaye Applewaite is a gifted young Barbadian designer whose bespoke wedding dresses are creating a buzz of excitement within the competitive world of bridal fashion. After just a single appearance at one of the top New York wedding shows, where she was invited to display her one-of-a-kind handmade creations alongside some of the industry’s leading brands, Jaye has found herself high on the wish list of international photographers for high-end wedding fashion shoots. What makes Jaye’s rapid rise all the more remarkable is that she is completely self-taught, having boldly transitioned from her qualified profession.

“After graduating with Honours as a Civil Engineer, I worked with Stantec in Canada and Barbados. It was a good experience but my heart wasn’t there. My real passion was for creativity, so I started making beautiful jewellery and headbands. It was only a hobby, but I took it seriously and made sure everything was top quality. That gave me a taste for entrepreneurship and an insight into what was required to succeed in business. When brides started buying my products, I became fascinated by the huge potential of the creative aspects of the bridal sector. It didn’t make sense that girls were flying to the USA to buy wedding dresses. By then my mind was open to the idea of switching from a secure job to the unpredictable life of selfemployment, so I decided to give it a go. My inspiration was Vera Wang, but we don’t have any Vera Wangs in Barbados so I had nobody to follow. That was actually good because I set off on my own path, determined to build a unique brand with my own signature style. My dresses are classic but with a more dramatic, modern edge. Trendy, sexy, clean-cut dresses that follow the body lines. Each dress is individually fitted and meticulously hand made to match the client’s personality. My business is still at a very early stage but I have a 5-year plan to get where I want to be. For now, I’ll continue with the one-onone brides, then get into international boutiques, then launch my own bridal and lifestyle lines. My ultimate vision is to run a luxury wedding and lifestyle empire.”