Dimitri’s Couture Dreams

With BB Fashion Week right in the middle of the time I needed to interview and shoot Barrio Dimitri, it was not an easy, or fun, task trying to hunt him down and get him to commit to a time. Not only was he busy with the fashion event and university, he was struggling to get himself an outfit and a concept for the shoot. One thing I’ve noticed working with Barrio is that he will not do anything half-assed. It’s all the way, or no way. As annoying as it was for me in terms of organising the shoot, it is definitely the best mentality to have if you want to keep up a respectable reputation, and it always ends with some great results.

Barrio Dimitri (All photos by Mikey Rapley)

We decided that the Limegrove mall would be our location of choice because it is the hub of high fashion in Barbados, with stores carrying names such as Ralph Lauren, Armani Exchange, and soon enough, Louis Vuitton.

Preparation for the shoot was stressful and tedious, as Barrio, being as critical as he always is, wanted everything to be perfect.

Now what is great about working with Barrio, and this would make my fourth time, is that he always provides very detailed ideas about the style of photography and the feel of the shots that he is looking for. As a photographer, the images are always inspiring and on all occasions have presented me with a new style to experiment with, forcing me to grow and become more versatile. It also means I know exactly what he wants, as opposed to just getting a vague description or idea. I feel that because of this, he will make a very good artistic director.

So the next hour or so found us in very open places around the shopping centre, resulting in quite a few curious glances from the shoppers. Naturally, we were not fazed as we are not the type of people who would let something so petty deter us from capturing some great images. All in all, I believe the effort and stress was well worth it, and I hope you agree.

In regards to the fashion industry in Barbados, Barrio believes there is a lot of potential for the island to become one of the major fashion capitals of the Caribbean. However, that means having to get ahead of Trinidad and Jamaica. He feels the major downfall for Barbados is the slow paced, easy-going nature of our culture here on the island and that we must overcome this mentality in order to be able to match up to international standards.

“I’ve gotten this far because of my drive and passion, so I like to work with people who have the same drive, or even more, in the industry as it relates to being a designer or photographer or stylist.”

Barrio hopes to be able to make an impact on the fashion industry in Barbados by allowing the general public to see how readily available fashion is in the island. He also hopes that as the society, especially men, becomes more open-minded then Bajans could appreciate fashion for what it is and not be afraid to express themselves though this medium.

Barrio is looking at being a lot more public next year, being featured in a few magazines and articles in the next few months. His own personal goals include becoming better at time management as well as being more adventurous with his personal style, venturing away from the classic feel. Barrio also has a hand in opening up a store in the near future, so keep your eyes open for that!

Check out part 1 of Mikey Rapley's interview with Barrio Dimitri.

This was a Hidden Gems feature. Every other week, Mikey Rapley will interview young and talented Bajans who deserve a chance to shine in the spotlight.