Bold and Beautiful
Jolie Duzon–brand fashions epitomize St. Maarten style.
You can’t mistake a clutch from Jolie Duzon. The brightly colored, hand-painted bags have become a trademark of island elegance with a pop of European flair.
The brand created by St. Maarten designer Zillah Duzon Hazel was born of the designer’s love of style, form and a fondness for the bold. She started off in clothing, making one-of-a-kind outfits for men and women. She has grown into a sought-after designer for major events such as Carnival queen pageants and weddings.
Duzon Hazel recently poured her creativity into clutches. She starts with a blank canvas. From there, her passion takes shape in the form of interlocking geometric patterns and flowing free-form designs.
`Once she has come up with an idea, she dips her brush in paint and sets to work on drawing images. The result is a unique piece of fabric ready for cutting and crafting into a wearable work of art. The clutches, with fun tassels like all Jolie Duzon pieces, are fitted with a gold coin engraved with the maker’s mark.
Duzon Hazel says she hopes her clothing and accessories “make women feel pretty, beautiful and confident.” Jolie means “pretty” in French, and the designer’s brand lives up to its name. “My passion is to create beautiful clothing that will make women feel confident about themselves and their ability to achieve their goals in life.”
At age 8, Duzon Hazel was sketching dolls and adding bursts of color to their outfits. By age 10, she had graduated to cutting out miniature figures of women on cardboard and clothing them in fabric. Soon she was making “papercut” dolls for girls in her class. Later, she would study economics in The Netherlands, but it wasn’t her passion.
So Duzon Hazel enrolled in the Amsterdam Fashion Institute’s Design and Style program. It was here that she began to imagine Jolie Duzon, and in 2011 she launched the brand in Rotterdam. Now Jolie Duzon is a recognizable St. Maarten brand.
You can find Jolie Duzon creations at Endless Summer Swimwear boutiques, My Way Store in Maho Village or direct from the designer at jolieduzon.com.