Popular Jamaican clothing brand Tribe Nine Studios on Wednesday (July 17) released its new St. Albans collection.

The St. Albans collection marks Tribe Nine’s fourth official collection, following previous successful launches such as Horizon and 7 Miles.

Troy Oraine, Tribe Nine designer and creative director, says the clothing line is named after the primary school he attended as a child and the only one he attended in Jamaica, St Alban’s Primary School in Denham Town, Kingston.

The designs draw inspiration from how prevalent khaki colours are with Jamaican school uniforms blended with other elements of contemporary fashion to showcase khaki’s versatility while further reflecting Jamaican culture to the wider world.

Now available on Tribe Nine’s website, the St. Albans collection features a range of pieces that highlight the adaptability of khaki, infused with the brand’s signature prints.

Speaking with Our Today, Oraine shared the deeper personal meaning behind the collection.

“For me, I think it’s time for the brand to add on what we represent. Before it was about me introducing Europe to Jamaica. But now it’s about us showing Jamaica to the rest of the world. I felt like khaki is something that is very staple to Jamaica and it’s so versatile as a fabric. I also wanted to pull back a little in terms of the prints and really show the silhouettes,” said Oraine.

Reflecting on the reception of the previous line, 7 Miles, Oraine noted its success and how it influenced the current direction.

“7 Miles was our first resort line, inspired by Jamaicans walking down Negril Beach with that sense of freedom and luxury. It was well-received and helped me focus on where I am now, which is Jamaica. Now, with St. Albans, we’re going back to the roots, especially with outerwear, which khaki is perfect for.”

Looking ahead, Oraine envisions Tribe Nine as a beacon of Jamaican creativity and craftsmanship. “The vision for Tribe Nine is to showcase what we see Jamaica as. It’s about turning the mirror to Jamaica and saying, look at what we can produce. It’s time for us to actually own that narrative,” he asserted. “I want Tribe Nine to be a beacon in pushing that forward, representing the evolution of Jamaica.”