By Kaili McDonnough Staff Reporter
A DESIGN BY RENEE LUKE OF BARBADOS. - Winston Sill/Freelance Photographer
LAST WEEK, the buzz around Kingston was Caribbean Fashionweek (CFW). For the third consecutive year, Pulse staged the event at the Hilton Kingston Hotel where fashion designers, models, stylists and celebrities converged to show off their styles and discuss various aspects of the multimillion-dollar fashion industry.
Seminars were held for designers as a means of providing them with information on presenting their collections in a global marketplace. Mohan Singh, manufacturer to designers such as Calvin Klein and Gary Williams, along with renowned Vogue photographer Joseph Cartright, addressed the designers in the areas of marketing, public relations and buyer/client relationships. Mr. Cartright's advice to the designers was that, "Fashion is all about marketing and wanting to create a specific image that ties in with the looks for a particular season. As designers, you must conform to these guidelines."
The main events of the Fashionweek were the fashion shows that began 'fashionably' late. The first show on Friday evening slated to start at 6:15 did not begin until 7:30. There was often a lull between the showing of each designer's collection as the runway was left empty for as long as 10 minutes. As a result, patrons were visibly impatient. It must be noted that on Saturday evening the situation was significantly improved as the flow between each set did not lag.
LOTS OF VARIETY
Designers that showed pieces in the first show were Karen Young of Funky Clothing, Harold Davis of Salam Fashions, Theo Hunter of Theo Hunter Designs, Michelle Cole of Cole Facts, Loran Green of Loran V designs and Trinidadian designer Sonia Mack who showed The Sonia Mack Collection. The second fashion show later that evening, began with Jamaican fashion houses such as Mutumba, The Mushroom and Cooyah showing off their collections. They were followed by Trinidadian designer Claudia Pegus who unveiled her men's line, Nefatari by Nefatari Caddle and sportswear by PUMA with the Jamaican flag-inspired collections being well-received.
Ava and Mark Daniels (Avark), designers out of Barbados, were the first on Saturday evening's roster of collections that were shown. Kim Glasgow, the visionary Renee Luke, a student designer from Barbados, Barry Moncrieffe, The Cloth represented by Robert Young out of Trinidad, Roger Gary, Yardman Style, Biggy, Stazzia Leather, Uzuri, Rhaj Paul of Barbados, and Claudia Pegus' women's line were all shown.
In addition to the fashion shows, there was also a trade show held in the Hilton's ballroom where the public was allowed to view booths that were set up by some fashion designers. Other exhibitors also participated in the trade show and were selling everything from funky jewellery to uniquely crafted leather bags and sandals designed by Bridgette. Although there were several designers at Caribbean Fashionweek that presented their collections, not every designer had that special panache that made you go 'WOW'. Topping the list of designers this year was the remarkable Sonia Mack, whose collection for men and women was simply out of this world. Sonia played with many different fabrics ranging from jersey, to rouched taffeta to mesh and raw silk. Her designs were one of a kind and showed the public the true meaning of the words haute couture.
Next on the list was Trinidadian Claudia Pegus. When Ms. Pegus puts on a show, expect a performance! Her line of men's wear was extremely well-tailored and the details on each piece were so intricate that one had no choice but to love the designs. As she promised in the weeks leading up to Fashionweek, her women's line was inspired from old world couture. Claudia went back to the old days and used detailing that defines the old school. Trains, bustiers, antique lace, sequins, satin piping and tassles all helped to add panache to her collection. A crowd favourite was a mermaid cut black and green chiffon tube dress that was very vintage.
Karen Young of Funky Clothing New York dazzled the crowd with her collection of new age fashions. Ms. Young is obviously very in touch with the popularity of the urban-chic look that has made waves on the runways from New York to Paris. An avant garde display of fashions came from Lauryn Hill look-alike Renee Luke who mesmerised the crowd with her Serengeti-inspired collection for men and women. Renee awed the crowd with her use of cheetah and zebra prints on pants and tailored reversible jackets.
A standing ovation followed Roger Gary's collection. Gary is a Fashionweek favourite whose designs have stunned the fashion industry since 2000. Roger's work keeps getting better and better as the years go by. Other amazing talents at CFW were Kim Glasgow from St. Vincent, Nefetari Caddle of Barbados, Biggy, Cooyah and Siim of Jamaica and Stazzia Leather out of Miami, Florida.
