The Ultimate Reggae Experience : Roots Rock Style: Art, Fashion & Culture — Exhibition Recap
On February 7, 2026, the Roots Rock Style exhibition unfolded as a vibrant cultural milestone in New York City, officially kicking off New York Fashion Week, Reggae Month, with a powerful celebration of Caribbean identity, creative expression, and fashion.
Hosted in the historic Holy Apostles Ballroom in Chelsea, Manhattan, Roots Rock Style wasn’t just an art show — it was a living cultural experience where heritage met runway, and where fashion, art, and history intersected to tell a compelling story of influence and innovation.
A Fusion of History and Contemporary Culture
The exhibition traced the deep relationship between reggae culture and fashion, positioning garments and visuals within a broader narrative of resistance, identity, and stylistic evolution. Curated to museum standards, the show explored how Jamaican cultural movements — from Rastafari and roots reggae to dancehall and diaspora aesthetics — shaped visual style and global fashion dialogues.
The Ultimate Reggae Experience: Roots Rock Style is a free public celebration of reggae music, Jamaican culture, sound-system heritage, fashion, art, food, dance, and community. Presented by The Reggae Museum NYC, the event transforms public spaces into a living cultural experience while building support for New York City’s future Reggae Museum.
Attendees moved from museum-quality installations featuring archival photography, interpretive text, and visual art into a dynamic runway presentation where fashion brought those cultural narratives to life.
The Jamrock Awards Debut
In a historic first, the Jamrock Awards were presented during the evening to honor outstanding contribution and cultural impact within reggae, dancehall, and Caribbean arts. One of the evening’s most celebrated moments was the recognition of Lady G for her enduring influence on reggae and dancehall culture — a symbolic bridging of sonic history and fashion heritage.
Cultural Significance
Roots Rock Style made a statement beyond fashion trends. It affirmed reggae culture as a global cultural force — not only heard through music but seen, worn, archived, and reinterpreted on the world stage. By anchoring the exhibition at the start of Fashion Week, the event set a tone of cultural credit, historical awareness, and creative power for the season.
We are committed to fostering a sense of wonder and discovery, providing a space where visitors can delve into the stories and symbolism behind these miniature masterpieces. Our mission is to inspire and ignite imagination, fostering a deep appreciation for the artistry and emotional resonance of our culture.
The Ultimate Reggae Experience Presents ROOTS ROCK STYLE: A Reggae Art, Fashion & Culture Exhibition
On February 7, 2026, The Ultimate Reggae Experience brought together fashion, art, heritage, and cultural expression for ROOTS ROCK STYLE: A Reggae Art, Fashion & Culture Exhibition at the historic Holy Apostles Ballroom in Chelsea, New York City.
Presented during Reggae Month, the exhibition created a bold cultural opening at the intersection of reggae influence and New York fashion. More than a traditional fashion presentation, ROOTS ROCK STYLE explored how reggae’s rhythm, identity, resilience, and global reach continue to inspire visual art, style, design, and contemporary creative expression.
Presented by
REGGAE ARTS & CULTURE FOUNDATION, INC.
via the Reggae Museum & Dancehall Museum
More Than an Exhibition
The Roots Rock Style Exhibition was more than an exhibition—it was a cultural statement. A living tribute to the sound, style, and spirit of Jamaica that shaped the world.
The evening honored reggae and dancehall not only as music, but as a global force that has influenced fashion, art, identity, creativity, and culture across generations.
Art Honoring Reggae and Dancehall Legends
Artist and curator Rohan O. Henry, @rohanohenry11, curated and showcased powerful artwork honoring legendary cultural figures including:
- Dennis Brown
- Gregory Isaacs
- Bob Marley
- Jimmy Cliff
- Marcia Griffiths
- Oliver Samuels
- Beres Hammond
- Bunny Wailer
- Peter Tosh
- Lady G
Each portrait captured the soul of reggae and dancehall—the revolution, the romance, the resistance, and the rhythm. The collection created a visual archive of the artists and icons whose voices, performances, and influence helped carry Jamaican culture to the world.
Reggae Fashion Museum: Roots Culture Meets High Fashion
For the Reggae Fashion Museum, Corey Rogers and Nubia presented visionary designs on mannequins, blending roots culture with high fashion.
From mesh marina influences to tailored silhouettes styled by @aujusstyle and inspired by reggae royalty, the garments told stories of identity, pride, craftsmanship, and global Black expression.
The fashion presentation reflected the way reggae has always shaped how people dress, move, and present themselves. Roots Rock Style brought those influences forward in an elevated visual language—where heritage met modern design and culture met couture.
The Cultural Narrative
Additional presenters included Joe Swift, Garvin Gray, and Natasha Samuels, helping bring the visual narrative to life through media, storytelling, and cultural documentation.
Together, the exhibition celebrated how music shaped fashion and how fashion shaped movement. It explored the journey from roots reggae to dancehall couture, preserving the visual influence of Jamaican culture while presenting it for a new generation.
Part of The Ultimate Reggae Experience
ROOTS ROCK STYLE serves as a signature cultural presentation under The Ultimate Reggae Experience, a growing platform celebrating reggae’s impact across music, fashion, art, culture, lifestyle, and community.
Through exhibitions, live programming, digital storytelling, interviews, fashion, and cultural experiences, The Ultimate Reggae Experience highlights the living legacy of reggae while supporting the broader mission of the Reggae Museum and Dancehall Museum.
From Jamaica to New York City and around the world, reggae continues to inspire. Its messages of love, justice, freedom, spirituality, pride, and community remain as powerful today as ever.
Reggae is not just music.
It is art.
It is style.
It is history.
It is power.
THE ULTIMATE REGGAE EXPERIENCE
presents
ROOTS ROCK STYLE
A Reggae Art, Fashion & Culture Exhibition
February 7, 2026
Holy Apostles Ballroom, Chelsea, New York City
7:30 PM
Our aim is to elevate reggae as a living culture.
The Reggae Arts & Culture Foundation Inc. is dedicated to preserving, documenting, and advancing the global legacy of reggae music and culture, born in Jamaica and embraced worldwide.
Our mission is to safeguard reggae’s history, sound, style, and social impact through museum-grade exhibitions, digital archives, education, and public programming that honor the music’s roots in resistance, spirituality, and community.
We exist to:
Protect cultural heritage by archiving music, fashion, oral histories, artifacts, and visual culture connected to reggae and its movements
Educate and inspire global audiences through accessible digital exhibitions, scholarly research, and youth programs
Champion Jamaican creators and the diaspora, ensuring proper credit, context, and cultural integrity
Elevate reggae as a living culture, connecting past, present, and future generations through music, fashion, art, and storytelling
At its core, this mission is about respect—for the music, for the message, and for the movement. Reggae is not just a genre; it is a way of life, a voice for the voiceless, and a beacon for social change. With The Reggae Museum, curated by the legendary YardRock TV, and the upcoming Dancehall Museum, we are building a legacy that ensures reggae and dancehall are never erased, overlooked, or rewritten by outsiders.
We are telling our own stories—loud, proud, and forever rooted in truth.
