Barrio Dimitri: Bajan à La Mode

Barrio Dimitri is quickly becoming a regular name in the fashion industry in Barbados. Barrio has been a fashion blogger for just over a year now and his blog “La Mode Dimitri” has become a major link between Barbadians and the rest of the fashion world. Having just turned 18, this young man seems to be well on his way to success.

Barrio Dimitri (All photos by Mikey Rapley)

Barrio has always enjoyed dressing up and, as his mother is a fashion designer, the interest in fashion was there from a young age. It is no surprise that this young fashionisto just woke up one morning and decided to start a fashion blog.

“I believe everyone should have a blog because it is a great form of self-expression. That why my blog is about fashion, because it is something I am interested in.”

Barrio began his blog with reviews on the latest fashion ad campaigns, but it has now grown into a more personal blog with articles on personal style and interviews with international style icons, designers, photographers and models, such as Dudley O'Shaughnessy, Rihanna's leading man in her latest video 'We Found Love'. Among his favourite articles are the trend reports, where he comments on the latest trends in fashion to help keep his audience informed about what is currently “in”.

The most difficult articles he finds to write are the runway shows, especially when there is a fashion week. As there are up to 13 collections a day, it can be quite tiring to keep the articles fresh with different ways to describe several designs.

As an avid member of the church, it could be easily assumed that there would be a possible conflict between his beliefs and the way the fashion industry works. However, he assures us that this is in fact not the case.

“The only thing I would have to be wary of is the easily faded line between fashion and ‘pornography’, such as models posing naked. I see it and appreciate it for what it is, but I do not necessarily condone it.”

It comes as no surprise that Barrio’s greatest inspiration in life is God and his creations. But within the fashion world his inspirations include, but are not limited to, designer Marc Jacobs, a fellow blogger Bryan Boy and Vogue editor Anna Wintour.

Career wise, Barrio aspires to be an editor or artistic director of a magazine, namely GQ.

“GQ has always played a huge part in honing my love for fashion, as well as my personal style, which is very classic.”

When asked whether he would consider beginning his own magazine, Barrio felt that the difficulty in such a project would not justify the means, but he would definitely never stop blogging no matter where his career in fashion goes. That being said, he is very keen on starting up his own fashion line sometime in the future.

Barrio is not one to have his head in the clouds though. He is still very focused on his school work. He is currently a second year French Language and Literature student at the University of the West Indies. Even though this is a four year degree, he is looking at a possible transfer to a New York or Paris university where he would look to study Business Management or, more ideally, Fashion Marketing. Of course, the bonus to being in Paris would be that he wouldn’t need to continue studying French, as he would be surrounded by the language.

In the next issue, we will find out how Barrio feels about the fashion industry in Barbados, as well as insight into the photo shoot and what it’s like working with him. 

This is a Hidden Gems feature. Every other week, Mikey Rapley will interview young and talented Bajans who deserve a chance to shine in the spotlight. Next week will be part 2 of his interview with Barrio Dimitri.