Jawara Alleyne's Five Influential Books: From Rihanna Posters to Margiela

Designer Jawara Alleyne, known for his conceptual, deconstruction-focused fashion rooted in identity and gender skepticism, has shared five books that shaped his practice ahead of his Notting Hill Carnival-themed capsule collection. Alleyne, who grew up in the Cayman Islands and worked at a bookshop in Grand Cayman for six years, cites Patrick Cariou's 'Yes Rasta', 'What is Culture For?' from The School of Life, 'Maison Martin Margiela' (Rizzoli), 'Masculinities: Liberation Through Photography' (ed. Alona Pardo), and 'Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone' as key influences. He studied at Central Saint Martins in London and founded his eponymous label after graduating. Alleyne describes his career trajectory as a series of novels, with his upcoming collection representing the next chapter focused on building a commercial foundation within a world of fantasy, stories, and identity. He emphasizes that fashion exists within culture beyond commerce, and his brand aims to support communities and tell untold stories. The interview was published by AnOther magazine, which also noted that Rihanna has described Alleyne as her favorite designer.