The American Friends of Jamaica (AFJ) gala, one of the most prominent charity events in New York City, will feature a new collection from Jamaican fashion and cultural business Cooyah this evening.
The event will be place at the Plaza Hotel in New York and will include a specially designed Cooyah pop-up store.
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The Hummingbird Gala, an annual fundraiser for AFJ, honors notable figures who have contributed to Jamaica’s progress. This year’s honorees include American luxury shoe designer, hotelier, gallery owner, and restaurateur Vanessa Noel; Kingston-American singer, songwriter, model, and actress Grace Jones; and brothers Robert and Mark White, who founded Sanmerna Paper Products in 2003 and were homegrown Jamaicans who were instrumental in establishing a robust paper industry in Jamaica.
Jones, who started the cross-dressing movement in the 1980s, appeared in a number of well-known movies and had a major impact on the disco music scene before going on to fuse genres, has been credited with inspiring many other artists. She was named the 40th best dance club musician of all time by Billboard in 2016.
Cooyah views the collaboration with the AFJ as the perfect way to start its “Welcome back to New York” weekend. The brand will showcase pieces from its latest resort collection for ladies, along with button-down shirts, polos, and limited-edition coats. A portion of the sales revenues will be donated to the charity by Cooyah.
Cooyah’s managing partner, Gary Codner, stated, “We are happy to collaborate with AFJ in this way as the gala provides a platform for the diaspora to unite for impactful causes. This aligns seamlessly with the AFJ’s commitment to advancing education and healthcare for vulnerable communities in Jamaica.”
Codner added, “Our involvement underscores our commitment to celebrating Jamaican culture and giving back in tangible ways. After a challenging year for Jamaicans, from hurricanes to earthquakes, it is essential to make a meaningful contribution that reflects the roots and vitality of our brand.”
This year’s Gala is anticipated to be an incredible celebration of the island’s influence on world culture, with performances by Baby Cham, Lukie D, and Max Glazer during the after-party.
The streetwear brand and Blue Mahoe worked together to design a unique T-shirt that would be delivered especially for each gala attendee. Additionally, Cooyah will display unique works by renowned artist Homer Bair. To help with the gala’s fundraising, the item will be put up for auction.
A fascinating silent auction collection, three courses of food, fine wines, and other glittering accents will all be included at the 2024 Hummingbird Gala.
