Hillarie Highlight: "Hunte" transforms to the "HUNTED"!

Danielle Jones-Hunte.

A brilliant Communications and Marketing professional.
A lecturer.
A stunning beauty queen and former model.

Now, this well-known Hilarian can add "fashion designer" to her already impressive résumé!

Danielle Jones-Hunte

Of her motivation to venture into this new business arena, Jones-Hunte intimated that the vision had been on her mind for quite some time. She was inspired by a recent getaway with her husband to Rajasthan, where she witnessed explosions of colour, mixing prints, fabrics and trims.

When the Miss Trinidad & Tobago Universe 2004 visited Jaipur and Udaipur, Danielle instantly reminisced on her visits to our very own capital city of Port of Spain, where she would venture to various fabric shops-- but this time, her modern-day adventures involved a unique, bold and hand-printed twist.

Also fascinated by Cuban Culture, the movement and evolution of the Msaai tribes of Kenya/Tanzania and, most recently, by the colours and fabrics of India, Danielle gained and understanding of the cultural connections possible through fabric, detailing and, of course, colour. Danielle was armed with a clear vision for designs, and knew that the time to delve into the world of fashion had arrived.

Jones-Hunte sprung into action, with her supportive husband as her muse. "Those first shirts (produced for him) were all really, really bright," says Jones-Hunte who admits to having to marry her own design inspirations with what would work on the local market. "Now, the line features a mix of very bold prints with a few more simple designs with slim and fuller cuts. I'm fed up going to events where women all look unique and sexy and men look like they all shopped for the same shirts in the same two stores." This is why she started with men's fashion - she wanted men to have more locally-designed choices.

Danielle's debut "R" collection features 42 uniquely designed shirts of which no two are alike and two shirt designs that feature two per size. 

Women had always been on her merchandising radar, and who doesn't love a good handbag for every occasion? She had all of her bags - from tiny showpieces to large carryall styles - constructed in a community that inspired her - the Dharavi slum in Mumbai. "A million people live in the one square mile area of Mumbai.

"They are the hardest working people I have ever seen - and all so proud," said the Hunted designer. "The area is famous for its leather work and the craftsmen are extremely creative," said Jones-Hunte. "My line started there and I wanted to give back, she said "every dollar I spent (there) funds employment and provides hope for the community. In line with her commitment to contribute, a percentage of every Hunted purchase made at the launch will be donated to the Trinidad and Tobago Cancer Society and the Couva Children's Home - where children from abused homes/ homes facing court cases etc. find rest and support.

Hunted can be found at fashion boutiques in Trinidad and Tobago including Anya Ayong Chee's Exhibit A boutique, #6 Scott St. St. Clair. For more information email info@huntedfashion.com.

If you're a modern urban dweller who appreciates culture and has an affinity for looking hot without feeling overheated, then Hunted is for you! Light fabrics, clean lines, delicate details and colour define the collection which includes handworked cotton, intricate details and is accompanied by her signature leather handbag collection is perfect for the Hilarian woman on the go.

Beauty Queens of the Universe: Danielle Jones-Hunte (left) with former Miss T&T Universe Finalist, Soleil Paterson.

Congratulations, Danielle!