My name is Ramel Usherwood and I am 27 years of age. I was born and raised in South East London with a Jamaican heritage. I am an Afro-Centric creative that specialises in fashion design, fashion styling and modelling. I see myself as a genderless soul but I am still on the journey of exploring myself through all forms. Exploring depth within my sexuality, my culture, my gender, my creativity. My expression and my intentions when creating anything is to take myself on an adventure of exploring these aspects within myself that makes me who I am. When it comes down to my fashion designs, I gain the core of my inspiration through myself and everything I embody. I use elements of my trauma, pain and suffering as a concept for me to break down and understand within myself through the use of my creative gifts. I believe we are all one as we have all come from one source, therefore we have experienced the same feelings and emotions, just in different experiences. As I am healing through the use of creating, I am now sharing that same healing with others with what I create. I use a lot inspiration from my roots, my family, my linage, my ancestry. I feel it is important that in whatever I am creating, I am acknowledging and honouring them. Our roots are what shape and create who we are, so I like to build awareness and knowledge on how things that I experience now in this lifetime can link to my roots. Understanding the root of how certain belief systems were formed, how parts of us has been brainwashed, cycles of pain and abuse. I use my creativity to explore this in more depth. The Catalyst to everything I embody and create is - Balance. Balance in all forms. Embracing our masculine and feminine energy. Embracing the polarities of life, the highs and lows and accepting both our light and dark energy. In my designs I play with the gender roles, I dive into what being a 'black man' is for me and how I choose to express my Afro Centric Masculinity. I use bright colours and textures as a means of communication. Communicating and expressing my feelings and emotions as I am unravelling my narrative.
