A Local’s Guide to Jamaica

Ayanna Dixon is a fashion designer who incorporates illustration into her creations;. her brand, ASD, is made and manufactured in Jamaica with a mission to reflect, represent, and lift up all Caribbean women.

This interview is part of The World Made Local, a global collaboration between the seven international editions of Condé Nast Traveler in which 100 people in 100 countries tell us why their home turf should be your next destination.

How would you describe Jamaica?

Honestly, it’s going to sound cheesy to say, but I think Jamaica is the heartbeat of the world. From our music to our people to our beaches, Jamaica stands out. Other islands are beautiful, but our people are so vibrant and full of personality, and our music, whether it's reggae or dance hall, there is something here for everyone. Jamaica is a true star—we’re so tiny, but we’ve impacted the world tremendously, especially with our music. And the vibes here are really good! The energy here is so positive. See—cheesy! But also true.

I went to fashion school in NYC, and I remember so well the first whiff of air when I would get off the plane when I’d come home—a sun-warmed, salty, sea-air smell that is just so Jamaica. Also, the smell of curry. I’d be in NYC during a cold, gray winter and I’d walk past a restaurant and get a whiff of curry, and bam, I’d be right back home in sunny, warm Jamaica.

Tell us about your connection to Jamaica

If you know Jamaica, our motto is “Out of Many One People.” This speaks to the diversity of our country—we have white Jamaicans, Black Jamaicans, Chinese Jamaicans, Indian Jamaicans, mixed Jamaicans...and we consider everyone 100 percent Jamaican. My brand, ASD, is really about representation and how it matters. In Jamaica, we have all these different beautiful women with all of these different body types, and as a Jamaican woman, and seeing how varying our range of beauty is, I want my brand to capture that. And I want my brand to make people feel good about themselves—sophisticated, sexy, empowered, and happy.

Tell us your top spots to grab a bite

I absolutely love curry goat. And most people and restaurants in Jamaica can cook a pretty good curry goat. But my favorite version is from the restaurant The Cove Coolout Restaurant & Bar in Kingston. I’m also always up for a good lobster—both Aunt May’s and Aunt Merl's in Hellshire Beach are fantastic. And Jamaican Chinese food is amazing! There’s nothing quite like it. It’s not like American Chinese food or even Trinidadian Chinese food. My favorite Jamaican Chinese place is Dragon Court. And for drinks, the margaritas at Chilitos are great—and they’re always strong!

What are some off-the-beaten-path gems?

There are a bunch of really cool murals in downtown Kingston. The city is trying to bring more creativity back to that area, and it’s interesting to see what the local artists are up to.

Where should we go to hear music?

Kingston Dub Club! They have concerts, mainly by reggae artists, but on Sundays they play a lot of dub music, and the place is open to the public. There are drinks, and the vibe is good, and the music is real.

What excites you about Jamaica right now?

Our music. Protoje is one of my favorite artists. Sevana is another, and Koffee. They’re all so great. Our music scene right now is insane. People are calling it the Reggae Revival. The message in our music currently is so uplifting and positive, and we really need that right now!

When you travel, what do you miss most about Jamaica?

The beaches and definitely the warmth of our people. If you’re walking around town and you’re in a bad mood or something is bugging you, people will just stop you and say, “No, man! Why aren’t you happy? A girl like you needs to smile! Things are going to be okay.” And I love this about our people. It’s not like they don’t have bad things going on in their lives;, it’s just that they want to cheer others up.

Follow Ayanna Dixon on Instagram @ayanna.asd