October. 26th, 2025
On November 15th, 2025 Meiling—Caribbean fashion designer and icon —and photographer Jordan Lum Hung (The Perspectivs) celebrate: a decade of creative collaboration through a special exhibition at Medulla Art Gallery in Woodbrook, Port of Spain, curated by Studio Minutiae. Since founding her label in 1969, Meiling has shaped the region’s fashion landscape with her visionary designs and relentless dedication. Beyond her iconic status, Meiling is known for her commitment to mentoring and being surrounded by young creatives, believing that curiosity, collaboration, and the constant exchange of ideas are key to artistic growth. Over the past ten years, her partnership with Jordan has become a testament to the transformative power of curiosity and mutual respect. What began as an experiment has evolved into a body of work defined by bold exploration, trust, and a shared passion for pushing boundaries. As we mark this anniversary, this interview invites reflection on the moments, lessons, and inspirations that have defined their journey—and a look ahead to the possibilities that curiosity and collaboration will continue to unlock.
Hi Meiling & Jordan. What is the significance of ten for you?
Meiling: Ten is always a very important anniversary, and I really can’t believe that ten years have really gone by. In some ways, it seems like it just flew by, and in some ways, I feel as though I have been working with Jordan for much longer than ten years.
Jordan: Ten years feels surreal but somehow grounding. It’s a crazy reminder of how time moves differently when you’re creating with someone who really understands your rhythm. Working with Meiling always felt more than “collaboration”; it’s been a kind of mentorship —a creative language we’ve built together through trust, curiosity, and play. She’s seen me grow as an artist and as a person, and through that process, I’ve learned the value of patience and presence in art-making. So “TEN” for me isn’t just a milestone; it’s the actual embodiment of that evolution of love and respect that deepens with time.
Meiling, when did you meet Jordan and decide that you wanted to collaborate with her?
Meiling: If you know me, I like to surround myself with creatives, and it was — I believe it was — well, 10 years ago, when many young creatives, photographers, Shaista, Mark, and another group. They would all come in a group, and they were very– for me, they were very interested in what I was doing, and I was interested in their lives and what they were– what music they were listening to, what we could experiment together on shoots which were never really planned, or we didn’t really do moodboards. It was just about taking something out of (out of my atelier or out of the shop and sending it out with them. It was a fun group. It was really so exciting, and I was so eager to learn. They brought a lot of life to 6 Carlos Street. Young life, fresh ideas, and then I remember doing one– Jordan was always a part of the group, not as a photographer. I remember once, after a shoot (you know), she had started picking holes in something that we had done, and we were putting it together, and she was not happy because I suppose all of them going out together, it was always a mismatch of everybody’s ideas. And I said, “Well, Jordan, why don’t you do it? Why don’t you pick up the camera and do it?” From there, we started doing it together, gradually, and it has grown into what it is today. What I found with Jordan — and what I still do today — is that Jordan is always willing, like me, to learn, to push the envelope, to experiment with new things, to try new designs, and to take chances with new scenarios. And finding new locations, models, techniques, or ideas for moodboards —this is why I like working with her. Usually, I’m not on the shoots with her, but on the shoots I have been on with her, she’s a great team player: she listens, she works with the stylist (Isabelle), and she is always open to new ideas. She’s not afraid to tell me what isn’t working for her, and I’m not afraid to do the same, and this is what it is —always truly a collaboration.
Jordan, when did you first discover Meiling?
Jordan: I feel like most people in Trinidad who care about design or the arts, Meiling’s name was always there; it was synonymous with elegance, craft, and a kind of quiet power. I remember seeing her work before I met her and feeling it evoke a kind of calm and precision in what she created, which made her stand out from other Trini designers. It wasn’t loud or overworked, but she made simplicity feel emotional and real. It wasn’t just about clothes; it was about presence. So when I finally crossed paths with her years later, it felt less like discovering someone new and more like meeting a presence that had already shaped the way I saw beauty and restraint. Less is more, as she always says.
Fun fact: The very first time I was in the same physical space with her was walking in the halls of UTT with fellow classmates, with a chicken strip hanging out of my mouth. I wanted to immediately disappear, haha. I couldn’t believe I was in her presence for the first time, and I was in that state, but I don’t think she remembers that encounter.
Do you have a favourite shoot or campaign?
Meiling: One of the very simple ones—we’ve done dark ones too—was ‘Creatures of the Night.’ I didn’t know what she was doing, and it was quite a surprise, but this is what we’re using in the exhibition. I also liked the one with Isabelle walking through Port of Spain I keep going back to it because of the angle. We shot it in downtown Port-of-Spain, with these cool shirts just strolling through. That day remains one of my favourite shoots. It felt fresh, and let me see the shirts in a new light. It wasn’t static, but showed how it could be. In real life, you could easily wear my shirts.
Jordan: Creatures of the Night will always stay with me. It was one of the first times I managed everything: styling, creative direction, photography—all of it. We shot in Meiling’s “sun room,” a funny detail since it’s usually bright, but perfect for this shoot. There was no elaborate setup—just black cloth, her plants, light slipping through the leaves, and our muse, Fariel, who is ever-present in the exhibition. The shoot reminded me that you don’t need much to create something authentic—just intention and trust. That day taught me that magic happens when you follow your instincts instead of overthinking.
Another special shoot was with Gen for Carnival. Meiling and I rarely venture into Carnival, but that year, coming out of lockdown, seeing the Carnival Village huts in color against Meiling’s stark white pieces on Gen’s beautiful black skin moved me. The contrast felt alive and emotional. That image will be in the exhibition.
Meiling, you’re an icon in this Caribbean fashion landscape. I remember you once telling me that you would never retire, and that is the beauty of pursuing your passion. As you look at everything you’ve created, What are you looking forward to now?
Meiling: I’m always looking forward to something new. I’m looking forward to continuing, and I’m looking forward to really going back and doing a really big collection, like what I did, a very serious collection. Which was carded for this year, but the universe wasn’t ready for me to do it, so hopefully in 2026, this is going to happen. I’m not going to say much about it, but I’m not doing a pop-up and a capsule, but a good body of work. What I’m also looking forward to (this is going to come probably 20 years down the line) is my retrospective.
Jordan’s images will be used in the retrospective, of course.
Meiling : Of course.
What inspires you about Meiling?
Jordan:
One of the most inspiring things about Meiling is her constant curiosity. Even after decades of creating, she’s still evolving, still taking risks, still chasing newness. Being part of her world has taught me what it means to create from love and longevity, not pressure or expectation. This exhibition feels like a marker of that relationship, but also a beginning. I know she’ll never stop designing, and I’ll never stop wanting to capture those stories through my lens.
Interviewer | Writer: Tanya Marie | PHOTOGRAPHER: Jordan LHR
