Myrlande Julien

Myrlande Julien, a dedicated Bahamian fashion designer, has committed her life to the pursuit of timeless style and innovative design. With a distinctive aesthetic and a meticulous eye for detail, she has cultivated a brand that offers sophisticated, contemporary pieces that transcend seasonal trends.

Julien’s journey into fashion began at an early age when she taught herself to sew. What started as a personal passion evolved into a professional calling, leading her to pursue formal education in fashion design, production, marketing, and merchandising. Although she initially began her academic career studying Education at the College of The Bahamas, her passion for fashion could not be ignored. She enrolled part-time in fashion and sewing courses at The Bahamas Technical and Vocational Institute (BTVI), and soon after, transitioned into full-time fashion studies.

Determined to gain hands-on experience, Julien immersed herself in the local fashion industry, training under several talented Bahamian designers and dressmakers. After completing her studies at BTVI, she expanded her knowledge abroad, studying Fashion Marketing and Merchandising at the Academy of Design and Technology in Toronto, Canada. Upon returning to The Bahamas, she began making her mark in the fashion scene, designing for a diverse clientele, including a reigning Miss World Bahamas.

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In 2015, Julien earned third place in a national fashion design competition hosted by BTVI and the Miss Bahamas Organization. Inspired and driven, she returned in 2016 with renewed determination and captured first place.

Following her experiences working with other local artisans, Julien launched her own custom and ready-to-wear fashion brand. Growing up in a small island nation, she often found it challenging to access fashion-forward clothing that wasn’t mass-produced. This challenge, coupled with her concerns about the unethical labor practices associated with fast fashion, inspired her to create a brand that is both ethically made and locally produced. Her mission is to provide stylish, high-quality apparel made in The Bahamas, while also helping to develop and employ local talent in the fashion industry.

Julien’s work has been featured in numerous local and international publications, including Shifter Magazine (Canada). She has successfully hosted pop-up shops that highlighted locally made clothing and accessories, and in February 2017, she co-founded JUJU Season Boutique. There, she was responsible for designing and manufacturing the ready-to-wear collection, managing public relations and marketing efforts, and directing promotional photo and video shoots. She also curated visual merchandising displays that enhanced the boutique's retail experience.

In 2023, Julien launched Seams & Notions, an educational extension of her brand designed to share her industry expertise with aspiring designers, seamstresses, and fashion students across The Bahamas. The initiative began with the release of her flagship Measurement Book; a comprehensive guide to accurately measure and record various body measurements needed for sewing garments for beginners and professionals alike. Building on this foundation, she authored One Stitch at a Time, a children’s book about a young girl with a vivid imagination and a love for fashion, as she discovers the magic of fashion design. Seams & Notions reflects Julien’s dedication to equipping the next generation with practical skills and creative confidence. She envisions a future where fashion education is accessible, culturally relevant, and empowering for all ages. 

Her work with Seams & Notions, along with her custom and ready-to-wear fashion brand, has received support through several small business grants aimed at helping entrepreneurs scale and innovate. These grants have allowed her to invest in production tools, expand her educational publishing, and strengthen her local manufacturing capacity.

Julien is currently focused on growing her ready-to-wear collection while developing a wider range of Seams & Notions books and resources that support skill-building across the fashion spectrum. In addition to running her brand, Myrlande Julien serves as an adjunct lecturer in the Fashion Design program at The Bahamas Technical and Vocational Institute, where she continues to inspire and mentor the next generation of Bahamian designers. Driven by purpose, Myrlande Julien sees fashion not just as an art form, but as a tool for economic empowerment, cultural preservation, and self-expression.