Yard Mas pays homage to iconic movies and soundtracks in ‘Premiere’
Published:Friday | November 10, 2023 | 7:03 AMKrysta Anderson/Staff Reporter
With teasing flashes and filming snippets of what is to come for next year’s road march, Yard Mas invited experienced and new revellers to the National Indoor Sports Centre last Friday and delivered a spectacular cinematic showcase, with costumes designed with flair and feting fanfare paying homage to iconic movies and soundtracks in an event themed Premiere.
Those who were able to grace the event’s red carpet wasted no time in strutting a pose before quickly making their way to premium runway seats. Once those were filled, attendees were seen standing by on the outskirts to stay in range of the main stage, or they found seats in the bleachers on either side.
Soca lovers waited with bated breaths as they were informed not once, but twice that the premiere would begin in 10 to 15 minutes. The crowd grew antsy as the time edged closer to 11 p.m. Just when they thought the display was about to get under way, the audience was asked to stand for the national anthem. Surprised by the request, they obliged and were excited by the announcement that followed suit.
The movie began with the vibrant view of Dream Girls. From there, there was one exuberant display after the other with models rocking the runway in stunning fête-forward fashion. Encanto, Frozen, Lion King, Pink Panther, Black Panther, Justice League, Guardian of the Galaxy and Diamonds rounded up the 10 elegantly enchanting costumes dedicated to Yard Mas.
Managing director of Yard Mas Andrew Bellamy explained the concept. “Everyone has a movie that they love, one that they have possibly watched multiple times. We love it even more when there is a soundtrack connected to it that we can play to remind us of the movie. So that was the thought process of the team when we agreed that Premiere is the theme. We would premiere the costumes like a movie inspired by unforgettable songs with costume elements that embody both the song and the movie,” he said.
He explained further that the team didn’t necessarily have a number of costumes in mind per se. The moment they arrived at the number 10, they were content with the collection, based on theme, colour and body inclusivity.
“We are also proud of the fact that five of the 10 designers are Jamaicans,” he enthused, adding, “Our goal at Yard Mas is to grow our local creative industry in the carnival sphere. So, we were very intentional in ensuring that there was a balance of Jamaican designers with regional and international ones.”
The local designs include Diamonds by Broadtail Designs; Black Panther by Masmaica; Justice League by Carnival Dolls; Encanto from Designs by Nnessa; and Pink Panther by Sheridee Designs, a Jamaican based in the United States. Regionally, Frozen is designed by Nisha Felice out of Trinidad and Tobago. Also representing Trinidad are Dream Girls designed by Nikitha Cornwall, Rio by Jenerlee Ramnarine and Lion King by Sheena Ali. From the United Kingdom, Vanisha Somauroo is the designer of Guardians of the Galaxy.
Noting that it’s still open season, as far as favourites are concerned, Bellamy is hoping to deliver a truly authentic “Yardie” experience.
“We will have our masquerade enjoying an indoor, air-conditioned venue for breakfast, lunch and snack with value-added services included. There will be pop-up events, the best route and road experience with DJs, performances, our unmatched ‘yardie vibe’ and our usual winner, the goodie bag, and even a concierge service for distribution.”