Mission Catwalk Mentor Is Dead

KINGSTON, Jamaica – Jamaican-born Kay Davitian who migrated to the United States in 1952, studied at The McDowell School of Fashion, honed her skills at Ce Bon Fashions on Broadway creating her signature jumpsuit for the likes of jazz singer Carmen McRae Hollywood actress Jane Russell and Frank Sinatra's mum, has died. Davitian who had been ailing for the past three months made her transition on Wednesday, October 2 at 10:00pm, surrounded by her immediate family members at the Cleveland Clinic in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. She was born on October 28, 1934. Davitian, who after a failed marriage moved to Italy where she lived for 36 years worked with designers to the stars Sorelle Fontana, Fernanda Gattinoni (credited with reviving the high-waisted empire style) and tailor to the stars Emilio Federico Schuberth. She also designed gowns for Marisa Boutique in Via dei Condotti (Rome's smartest shopping strip). The first Jamaican woman hired by the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation Davitian worked with Jones of New York for 15 years as their quality control technician which required her travelling to some 50 of the 90 countries in which they operated. In recent years the woman who often regaled design students with tales of how she went from making paper dolls to haute couture engaged a new generation of designers each week on the popular TVJ reality show Mission Catwalk as she taught the art of hanger appeal, quality control and finish.