Nathelie Taylor, Gleaner Writer
( left )A design by Barbadian designer Antonio Cumberbatch at the Caribbean Fashion Week (CFW) spring/summer 2006 Fashion Shows, held at the National Indoor Sports Centre, Independence Park, Arthur Wint Drive last Friday.
( right ) A striking necklace by Altier Doré at the Caribbean Fashion Week (CFW) spring/summer 2006 Fashion Shows. - PHOTOS BY WINSTON SILL/FREELANCE PHOTOGRAPHER
AN 18-YEAR-OLD'S pumping 'posh punk' collection stole the show - all three shows actually - on day one of the fifth staging of Caribbean Fashionweek (CFW) at the National Indoor Sports Centre (NISC) in St. Andrew last Friday evening.
Barbadian designer Antonio Cumberbatch, a recent graduate of the Barbados Community College with an Associate Degree in fashion design, was one of 13 to showcase creations on the first of CFW's three-night showing of clothing and jewellery from Jamaica and the Caribbean. And, this quiet, soft spoken, unassuming, young man blew everyone away with the funky intensity that characterised his line of women's wear.
Using squares of leather and many safety pins as his trademark, Cumberbatch's collection, the fifth in the first show of the evening, was inspired by '80s pop and fashion cultures. His creations, including the 'miniest' and tightest of dresses paired with just-as-short fur coats and even a one-sleeved bolero-type denim jacket, exuded raw, pounding energy, sex appeal and a whole lot of sass portioned with just the right amount of class and sophistication.
While his designs are not for the faint of heart, they do tug at that inner badness and gives one a sense that wearing his designs would automatically produce immeasurable sense of presence and power.
ROUSING APPLAUSE
Patrons so enjoyed Cumberbatch's designs, that they stood in screaming, rousing applause - the only such for the evening - as he took a rather humbled walk on the catwalk following his showing.
Cumberbatch's closest rival with an almost similar funky theme was Joelle Jean-Fontain's 'Kreyol'. Jean-Fontain, who is from Haiti, and was the first designer in the third show of the evening, presented a collection that was dramatic and vibrant.
There was nothing ordinary about it; actually one is forced to say that it was a bit off-beat at times and a whole lot quirky. But, the collection definitely had appeal and, interestingly, was undeniably sensual.
Bold use of colours, metallic, shimmery prints and accessories and what could be described as the piece de resistance - poufed skirts - made up a collection that had everyone's eyes glued to the svelte Pulse models.
The event itself began over an hour later than the scheduled 5:30 p.m. start time, an hour which gave 'latecomers' the chance to browse the few designers' booths scattered within the NISC while sipping on their favourite beverages supplied by Smirnoff, as organisers tied up final production loose ends.
LONG DELAY
However, even during that long delay many more patrons had still not arrived and a great number of seats were still empty. This led organisers to ask those seated in the V.I.P. section nearest the floor-level runway to sit closer to the front for, possibly, a more packed effect for the cameras.
The sole jewellers for the evening, Atelier Doré from Suriname, finally kicked things off at approximately 6:30 p.m. with a stimulating showcase, which consisted largely of interestingly crafted necklaces, but also veered to the seductive with a corset-type silver-toned 'top' tied in the back with pieces of cloth. The natural-themed presentation of these pieces - models garbed in fascinating wire, straw and dried leaves couture - also held everyone's attention as much as the jewellery being presented.
Atelier Doré was followed by Kaj swimwear, Michael Williams with The Eye Collection, Sean Dixon with women's wear and the crowd favourite Antonio Cumberbatch who closed show one in captivating style.
