Playing Mas with Tony Ross

The first time I witnessed Trinidad and Tobago Carnival, my eyes were bedazzled! That too and the fact that they were running water. My friend thought I was crying.

“Are you hurt?” was the question to which I answered, “No…It’s too much colour!”

It was like watching the television too close. The costumes were splendiferous! They were absolutely amazing! I admit, as an adult, having visited Trinidad and Tobago for Carnival, only now I know how children feel when they are in a toy store! The costumes were a feast for the eyes. Who designs these costumes?  

I told my friends, “I sure would like to shake the hands of these phenomenal costume designers.” I had to actually close my eyes to compose myself, despite my frenzied euphoria. I was actually in the land of calypso and steel pan music, the place that put the exclamation mark in ‘Carnival’!

Years later, when I actually met Tony Ross, I was caught up in a whirlwind of sweet ecstasy. Meeting a costume designer is one thing but meeting Tony Ross Alleyne? Wow! It’s the icing on the icing on the cake. 

About Tony Ross

Ross was born in Arima but grew up in Belmont Port of Spain in Trinidad. Costume designing is in genes; his aunt and uncle also design costumes. Many times they would create costumes for Ross even before he could even walk! Ross furthered his skills at the International Academy of Design and Technology in Canada and graduated with top honours in Fashion and Costume Design.

Ross really had no conscious thought or plans to do costumes but was drawn into the arena by a friend who introduced him to the band leader Ronald Saldenah (the grandson of the late great Trinidadian designer and band leader Harold Saldenah) who was involved in Caribana, Toronto’s Carnival. The rest is history. He began designing and producing a section for the band which lasted from 1992 until 2006.

He also designed the band Pelau for the pride parade and won the band of the year twice. He has done major costumes’ displays for really large upscale stores such as Sears and John Bead.

In the early 2000’s after going home to Trinidad every year for Carnival, he finally helped a friend of his who also produced a section in Toronto and started to do the same for the band Trini Revellers though before he had made a promise to himself that he would not design costumes on his vacation.

He has designed for Carnival Bands in countries such as Antigua, Canada, Trinidad and Tobago, Miami and St. Kitts and Nevis and his designs are in high demand. For 2009 Caribana, he worked with Carnival Nationz, his home band since 2007 producing the theme Fruits and Flowers which won the coveted title of Band of The Year. For 2010 Caribana, there was a tribute to Sparrow and each costume represented one of Sparrow’s more popular calypsos such as “Drunk and Disorderly”, “Jean and Dinah”, “Big Bamboo”, “Congo Man” and “Saltfish”.

He collaborated with Marcus Eustace and Ross designed, fabricated, made the moulds from scratch,   the faces and the spikes and also airbrushed the faces that were used on one magnificent costume. It won the title of King of Carnival 2010 in Trinidad and Tobago. Now that is a Tony Ross Original!

In the summer of 2005, he met delegates from St. Kitts in Toronto and discussions were made as to the possibility of him designing and producing the band Phunn Makers for 2005/2006 St. Kitts-Nevis National Carnival. This he did and voiced that, “I was really taken aback by the way that the locals in St. Kitts & Nevis enjoyed their Carnival so then and there I knew that I wanted to make it an annual event.” That year, his design won Queen of the Bands for St. Kitts and Nevis National Parade.

He designed and produced Phunn Makers for 2006/2007 St Kitts-Nevis National Carnival, which took the coveted title of the Band of the Year. That year, his presentation was entitled, “Mask is Mas. In 2010/2011 Ross’ designs again captured the Queen of the Bands title in the St. Kitts and Nevis Carnival.

His designs are always off the beaten path and usually require lots of time to plan, develop and produce as his signature has always been clean different lines adorned with really intricate embellishments.

 “Before, I never really embraced what God blessed me with. I took it for granted a lot. Over the last couple of years I really embraced it. I came to grips with this because I had a stroke where I was completely paralyzed for a short time. I wondered whether I would be able to paint or draw again. I then decided to make a career out of it.”

I could not help but ask Ross whether he has to meditate and transform his whole being or light candles before creating his work of art.

“It comes naturally. I don’t have to be in Zen like mode, transcend or light candles. I may be doing something unrelated like watching television or reading and that may spark an idea and then the idea erupts and I become pregnant with the whole thing. I usually stop what I am doing and jot down my ideas or sketch. I work with materials and start putting them together. Clients cannot see what is in my head and sometimes can’t wrap their head around the concept but with materials I can better illustrate where I am going with the design. I’m better at grabbing stuff and physically putting things together.

What I love about Tony is that he is humble, warm and embracing. My uncontrollable imagination had me thinking that as a fabulous costume designer Ross would be from another plateau, like the Jetsons. I imagined him projecting contemporary culture and lifestyle into another time period, a futuristic utopia  of elaborate robotic contraptions. Does Tony Ross commute to work in an aero car that resembles a flying saucer with a transparent bubble top? I could not help but wonder.

I must convey that his feet are firmly planted on the ground. There are no airs, and no deep mystique.  Also, he drives a car…not an aero car. More importantly, no matter where in the world his creative assignments take him, he does not forget his roots.

“Many people move to bigger countries and become acclimatized until they lose touch with home. It is the opposite for me. I never stop missing the Caribbean. I look forward to catching a flight and going home to Trinidad. I grew up in the country and I’m a country boy at heart. I will fall asleep on the plane but as soon as the plane gets closer to home… I feel it in my spirit and I awake,” reflects Ross.

Indeed, it is these moments of awakening that makes Tony’s designs so great!