By Chalien Dantes

Jamaica’s presence on the global fashion scene took centre stage as designer Rachel Scott unveiled her latest womenswear line at New York Fashion Week on Sunday, February 15, 2026. 

The showcase put her five-year-old label Diotima in the spotlight, closing out the Fall 2026 ready-to-wear presentations with a bold, art-inspired collection. 

The 34-piece collection drew inspiration from the work of the late Cuban artist Wifredo Lam, through fine merino knits, hand-applied organza intarsia, gobelin jacquard and digitally printed wool silk fabrics. Held at 111 Broadway in Manhattan, the presentation drew a high-profile front row that included sprint legend Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, designer Christopher John Rogers, Grammy-winning singer Monica, stylist Gabriella Karefa-Johnson, and New York’s First Lady Rama Duwaji.

Titled Femme Cheval, the collection featured Jamaican models Naki Depass, Tami Williams and Romae Gordon, and explored themes of identity, strength and self-definition through striking silhouettes and textured fabrics. Scott described the work as a reflection on womanhood shaped by resilience and memory in a challenging cultural moment.

Her rise in fashion has been rapid, earning her the Council of Fashion Designers of America Emerging Designer of the Year award in 2023 and American Women’s Wear Designer of the Year in 2024. Earlier this month, she also debuted her first collection for the American label Proenza Schouler.