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Dancehall Fashion Trends in Jamaica

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Dancehall Fashion Trends in Jamaica | Image Source - Foster Shots PhotographyDancehall Fashion Trends in Jamaica | Image Source - Foster Shots Photography

By Venesha Johnson | Associate Writer

Fashion in Jamaica has become very Americanized. Whatever trends happening there are mostly happening here as well. However, this is only sometimes the case. Some long-standing fashion trends are unmistakably Jamaican and others have been popularised in recent years as well. What do these trends have in common? Dancehall music.

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Has someone ever invited you to an oldies dancehall party where you must dress according to the theme? What would you think of wearing? Unlike today, back in the day, the Jamaican dancehall scene had a specific look. I’m pretty sure for most people once they hear dancehall and fashion in the same sentence these are the looks they would think of.

So let's look at some of our dancehall fashion trends in Jamaica.

Red, Green and Gold Mesh Marina (Merino)

This is the trend I was referencing above. It is, in many ways, the most identifiable dancehall fashion trend of all time. The merino or “mesh marina” as it is known locally, is a favourite among Jamaicans. The classic red, green, and gold coloured ones, which are Jamaican Rastafarian culture offshoots, are worn by both men and women. The merino was originally a European undergarment, or "under-shirt" as the Jamaicans would say, but the colours are taken from the Ethiopian flag.

In the 1970s, it became a staple of “rude boy” attire and was typically worn beneath a button-up shirt with just one button at the top. The original merinos were only worn in one colour, but in the 1990s, extra colours were added to give them a new lease on life as dancehall clothing. During photoshoots, music videos, and live performances, artists including Spragga Benz, Louis Culture, Beres Hammond, and Buju Banton all wore red, gold, and green merinos.

Cut Off Foot Pants

In addition to the leather vest, many rings on several fingers, and the "cut off foot" jeans, Shabba popularised several other fashion fads. This was one of those fashion trends that did just show up at dancehall parties, but Jamaicans had it as a regular day-to-day trend. This combined with boots like timberlands was a significant hit. Kanye West, Kendrick Lamar, and Asap Ferg are just some of the artists influenced by the Grammy-winning deejay and style icon. His song Like Shabba Ranks is a tribute to his iconic stature in music and fashion.

Clarks

There is a likelihood that if you ask a Jamaican to name a shoe company, they will say Clarks. These shoes have been a staple of Jamaican fashion and our culture in general since the 1920s, but they became even more well-known in the 1970s. We wear them to every event imaginable because of their versatility and durability. You name it: work, church, weddings, court, funerals. Even the worn-out pairs are repurposed as farming shoes or labour boots on building sites. Throughout the 1970s and 1980s, numerous Reggae musicians frequently displayed shoes on the covers of their albums. 

Numerous songs have been written on the shoe, with Little John's Clarks Booty from his album of the same name being the first. For a while, Clarks became the shoes our grandparents, particularly those who lived in the UK would swear by for school shoes. However, the songs “Clarks,” and “Clarks Part II” released in 2010 by the renowned Dancehall artists Vybz Kartel and Popcaan with other members of the now infamous Gaza Empire bred new life into the trend. The popularity of the Rvssian-produced hit led to an even greater preoccupation with shoes than before, particularly among the younger generation. They begin to fly off the shelves in record numbers.

Skinny jeans, White Tee and Fitted Hats

It is debatable whether this should be considered a dancehall fashion trend because it was such a basic simple outfit. But thanks to Vybz Kartel and his strong influence on the Jamaican population, when he released “Straight Jeans and Fitted” in 2010, the outfit got even more popular, along with the rosary chains and G-shock watches mentioned in his song. 

These are some other noteworthy fashion trends, most of which were from the 90s, our most fashionable dancehall era.

  • Bright-coloured wigs- matching bright-coloured synthetic wigs with our outfits 
  • Fishnet stockings
  • Large hoop earrings
  • Extra baggy jeans
  • Patra braids. 
  • Oversize Hockey Jerseys
  • Neon tights

Dancehall fashion in Jamaica is a mesmerizing expression of our history and pride. It blends vibrant colours, bold patterns, and fearless styles. Of all the fashion trends, which is your favourite?

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References & Sources For Dancehall Fashion Trends in Jamaica

  1. Neon tights and fishnets - Hottest dancehall fashion trends of the 90s | Loop Jamaica. (2001, July 24). Loop News. https://jamaica.loopnews.com/content/neon-tights-and-fishnets-hottest-dancehall-fashion-trends-90s
  2. Clarks In Jamaica | Why Are They So Popular? (2023, July 23). My-Island-Jamaica.com. https://www.my-island-jamaica.com/clarks_in_jamaica.html
  3. Watkis, D. (2021, September 16). Fashion Trends Jamaica And Dancehall Introduced To The World. DancehallMag. https://www.dancehallmag.com/2021/09/15/style/fashion-trends-jamaica-and-dancehall-introduced-to-the-world.html

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