Significance of "Pieces of Fray"

Just as the apple does not fall far from the tree, so the same goes for the thread not fraying far from the fabric. My great grandfather Noel A. Fray started the fashion legacy for his family by being one of the foremost reputable tailors in Jamaica. On King Street, Kingston, Jamaica, his tailoring company, Noel A Fray Ltd. thrived for over 70 years; over 50 workers were hired. His business closed in 2008 although Grandpa Fray died in 2005 based on complications resulting from a previous car accident. His sons Gary and David were the ones to keep his business going. Noel Fray's name, in fact, lived on as he made a good name for himself as a tailor.

The fashion sense really seeped through the family's bloodline and it did not do so timidly, but boldly as it created a successful life for my family. Noel A Fray’s grandson (my uncle), Roger “Brue” McHayle, was the co-founder and president of the clothing brand, PNB Nation in New York. Roger’s sister (my aunty), Shara McHayle-Phillips, marketed PNB Nation. and Nick Cannon, after many years, bought the brand and revived its culture. Now, Roger McHayle is a designer for Nike, and Shara McHayle-Phillips is an Art Producer of her company, Bounce Media.

Who knew that this Fray fashion blood was going to passionately run through my veins as well; I certainly did not know. It was in 2016 that I discovered why I possibly was so interested in this fashion field, and this motivated me to not ignore destiny.

When the opportunity arose to have “Pieces of Fray” pop up shop, it was like a dream come true! Aunty Shara McHayle-Phillips, creator of Pieces of Fray, passed over the baton to me, her niece, to experience the family's passion for fashion. It seems clearer that I am the next generation to Fray away and find my success in fashion. I believe that history makes sense of the future and it seems that we did not fray far from Noel A. Fray.

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A big thank you goes to Bang-ga-rang for hosting the event.

- Sincerely, A.