Phélicia Dell: The Designer
PHELICIA DELL
Born in Port-au-Prince, Haiti. She is the daughter of a dressmaker an experienced textile factory supervisor. Her mom and acquaintances from an early age easily recognized Phelicia’s artistic skills.In 2004, after the assassination of her business partner and baby’s father in Haiti, she gained a creative global meaningful inspiration that will later become her VèVè signature style and trademark. Exclusive and graceful characteristics are key trends in Phelicia’s clothes and assortment of accessories. Haiti’s music and dance, notably sacred rhythms, and VèVè schematics have inspired the designer’s creative creations throughout her career. VèVè Collections debuted in 2006 with 25 beaded cocktail gowns. Phelicia Dell is one of a few Haitians born designers to own her workshop. Today, celebrities order hundreds of her creations. Her style is recognized for its refinement and accents. She has designed a new feminine silhouette bag where shapes, curves and pockets are highlighted by the exactness of their cuts. Mingling artifacts discovered during her research days have influenced a styling mood found in many of her designs. Phelicia highlights the vibrant and colorful side of the Caribbean as well as blends ethnic flair and influences in her work. Soon after being identified by “Women in Democracy” and “Voix Essentielles,” formerly “Vital Voices” in the US, Diane Von Furstenberg named her the greatest rising handbag designer in 2009, the label popularized Haiti’s handmade crafts and VèVè items as a new, iconic appearance. She was also rewarded by “Island of the World” for Fashion and Culture Design a year later. Daily Beast named her one of 150 world-shakers in 2010.
In one year, Digicel named her greatest rising entrepreneur. In 2012, she debuted an exclusive collection at Kreyol Fashion Days in Guadeloupe, an event that combines Art and Fashion. 2015 Caribbean Fashion Week named her Master Designer. She was named one of Haiti’s 50 most inspired and model women by IFTH & STH in January 2021. Phelicia Dell, a self-taught artist takes her art from Haiti to boutiques and runways around the world, including Miami, Martinique, Argentina, Guadeloupe, Bahamas, New York, Paris, Washington, Connecticut, Dominican Republic, Miami Fashion Week, Caribbean Fashion Week, Island of the World Fashion Week, London Fashion Week, and Black Expo Design in Montreal Canada. Today VèVè Collections represents one of the strongest and sustainable business ventures in Haiti. While her talent already confirms the emergence of her first rays of light, her first stars; Phelicia creates, invents and continues to win. Her designs have a legacy, artisan style, which makes her work timeless and beautiful.