In April 1999 Michelle Simone Clarke (aka Siim) began designing the pieces that were to feature in her Spring 2002 collection exhibited at the Caribbean Fashion Week 2001 held at the Jamaica Hilton in Kingston. The collection featured 20 looks (out of a total of 30) and her runway presentations garnered not only a standing ovation, but also won her a second showing and a third runway presentation in the Week’s “Best Of The Show” show held on the closing night of the Week’s activities.
Novia McDonald-Whyte, Contributing Fashion Editor for the Jamaica Observer All Woman segment (November 12, 2001) wrote: “The audience applauded Clarke’s extraordinary vision, talent and deceptively simple work.” Similar sentiments were repeated in the Sunday Herald Pure Class Fashion Report (November 18 – 24, 2001) by Jacqui Tyson: “ Clean and uncluttered, Siim is going to go places. Her linen “tie ones” indicate a new era of creativity, futuristic with a different twist on minimalist ideas.” Siim was also mentioned favourably in the New York based magazine Sister 2 Sister.
In December 2001, Siim was invited to participate in a week-long promotion held by the Jamaica Tourist Board in conjunction with New York Magazine and Henri Bendel at the Henri Bendel store on 5th Avenue in New York. Considering that Ms. Clarke had only been officially a “Fashion Designer” for about 2 months, this was a significant achievement.
Since November 2001, Siim has shown collections in Caribbean Fashion Week 2002 and 2003 and at the International Mecca of Style (South African Window) held in Kingston Jamaica in May 2003. In January 2003 Siim premiered her 2003 Spring/Summer Colelction at an exclusive showing at one of Jamaica's historic greathouses. The show was entitled "The drums are restless tonight..." and featured several young local painters and sculptors.
Siim continues to be involved in local fashion, cooperating with local fashion model agencies such as Saint International and Pulse in their search for and promotion of local talent.
The label SIIM is a registered trademark registered at the Trademark Division of the Ministry of Trade and Commerce.
Due to the continuing interest in the designs by Siim, The Higher intelligence Agency has made arrangements to continue to sponsor the Siim label.
