Layne Witter, fabulous fashion designer dies

Fashion designer par excellence, Norma Elaine Witter (Layne), died peacefully on Sunday, July 24, at her home in Willow Run, Stony Hill, St Andrew. Her daughter, Sharon Witter, and family friend Marvene Embden, who had flown into the island from New Jersey on Saturday, July 23, were with her when she died. Witter had been suffering from cancer for over a year.

A service of thanksgiving for the fashion designer's life will be held on Thursday, August 4, at 10 a.m. at Webster Memorial United Church, 53 Half-Way Tree Road, St Andrew, following which she will be interrred at the Dovecot Memorial Park, St Catherine.

Career

The 71-year-old, who operated Layne's Boutique, was an outstanding fashion designer and has dressed many women across all social classes in Jamaica. Popularly known as Layne, she started her career in England, then worked in the United States of America for years and returned to Jamaica in the '80s where she set up the boutique.

Colour, cut and style were her hallmarks and she was determined to get Jamaican women to wear the clothes of Jamaican designers. Many thought her clothes were 'foreign' made and to Layne that was the ultimate compliment.

Layne was also the designer of choice for many of Jamaica's trailblazing top models, brides, corporate women, debutantes, and corporate companies' promotional campaigns. Her designs have graced innumerable catwalks and, for many years, the acclaimed A.J. Brown Fashion Follies, for which she was the main designer.

She was also a talented singer and has entertained many with her favourite jazz rendition of Summertime. An excellent cook, her dinner parties are legendary, and her Thursday-night 'stew peas' were not to be missed.