In 2023, Rachel Scott won the CFDA Fashion Award for Emerging Designer of the Year, only to be crowned Women’s Wear Designer of the Year a year later – the first Black woman to achieve this honour. The Jamaican designer, who founded her label Diotima in 2021, places culture, tradition, urbanity, and politics at the heart of her modern creations. 

Scott envisions a growing community of independent brands like Diotima, aiming to amplify their influence on the global fashion industry. “These brands are representative of the world we live in and the world I want to see,” she explains. 

The New York Times notes Scott is “reshaping American style”, driven by the rich cultural influence of her homeland, Jamaica. Diotima’s collections are designed and produced in both Jamaica and New York. 

The brand’s signature crochet pieces are handcrafted by artisanal collectives in Jamaica, reflecting a dedication to preserving craftsmanship. Its ultimate silhouette explores a tension between what is revealed and what remains concealed, balancing structure with movement.

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“I advocate for a more expansive definition of luxury, one that doesn’t revolve solely around Europe,” Scott says, outlining her philosophy. 

Recalling a personal moment, she shares: “Once, in the middle of nowhere, I met a Jamaican wearing a Jamaica T-shirt. We are such a proud nation.” And wouldn’t it be fitting, she muses, if one day she encountered someone, somewhere in the world, wearing Diotima?