Cooyah (verb) Jamaican dialect – Look at me, Pay attention!

Since 1987, Homer Bair and Susan Kreitman have caught the world’s attention with Cooyah; the hip and trendy clothing line inspired by Reggae, Roots and Rastafarian culture.

Their designs have reflected a dynamic and eclectic Caribbean experience creating a cultural revolution in the fashion industry now spanning some 18 years. Homer, staying true to his artistic and cultural Jamaican up-bringing, has mastered the art of integrating fashion and culture to produce exclusive designs. While Susan, the fashionable entrepreneur continues to add the right balance of cutting edge clothing to the creative mix.

Brand Cooyah has undeniably earned bragging rights in the fashion industry having developed from a small screen printing company in New York printing for recognized companies such as the Russell Simmons’s Def Jam Label, Nike and HBO. They have unquestionably grown into the first trademark clothing line with a focus on reggae wear that has taken the style to millions across the world.

Recognized world-wide as the official reggae brand, Cooyah has graced runways from the Caribbean to North America, Europe and Asia winning the hearts of many fashion enthusiasts who have come to love the bold and creative designs that reflect a strong Caribbean energy flavored by roots, rock and reggae music.

Cooyah has experienced significant exponential growth and expansion since Homer and Susan first started printing their designs. Looking back, Susan and Homer both agree that taking on the fashion industry has been a road filled with many challenges as they lost their South Beach outlet to fire and two other locations on the island of St. Martin to Hurricane Louise.

Down but not out, Homer and Susan and their team comprising of Wayne Bair, Roderick Robinson, Tennyson Smith, Pedro Sylvester, Wilbert Wilson and Thelma Francis shifted focus to Jamaica and the Caribbean becoming a registered trademark company managed by Homer’s brother, Nigel Bair in 1996.

But it was not until 1999 after scouting the young marketing entrepreneur, Gary Codner that the company began to forge ahead in fulfilling a mandate geared towards corporate social responsibility while capturing the hearts and minds of the Jamaican public.

The brand has secured a number of endorsements from major events such as International Reggae Day, the annual Tru-Juice Rebel Salute and Caribbean Fashion Week and has been embraced by major international acts including Bounti Killa, Sean Paul, Shaggy, Beres Hammond, Wyclef Jean, R. Kelly, Willie Nelson and rock sensation Lenny Kravitz.

Cooyah has continued to reign as the biggest, hippest and most culturally relevant clothing line in tuned with the business of fashion from a global perspective.

In 2006 the world can expect to see and hear much more of Cooyah as they are set to release their anticipated modish denim line and stylish spring collection. The brand will undoubtedly continue to break even bigger ground internationally and across the Caribbean while maintaining a truly artistic fashionable energy with a sizzling roots, rock, reggae vibe.