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One of the biggest and most anticipated
events was held in Jamaica last week over a five-day period,
from June 8 to 12.
Caribbean Fashion Week, now in its fifth
year, brought out not only the gorgeous, professional
models of Jamaican birth back home to grace the catwalk,
but was mainly centred around the up and coming designers
of the region.
Some of the designs featured were on
par with any design done by international designers Versace
or Armani.
Designers from Barbados, Haiti, the UK,
Suriname and of course Jamaica and Trinidad showed their
lines.
Designers such as Uzuri-Jamaica; Biggy-Jamaica;
Loran V-swimwear, Jamaica; Jessica Ogden-women's wear,
London; Cooyah-Jamaica, and several others had many of
the fashion-conscious rethinking their fashion sense.
We were well represented by Zadd and
Eastman, Meiling and Claudia Pegus.
Renee Luke of Barbados, a designer who
also designs for both men and women, said that all of
her garments were inspired by nature. The young and tenacious
designer recently completed her studies in fashion design
in Barbados. She has a passion for research, which fuels
her creativity. Luke's designs reflected the highest quality
of wearable art.
One of the most impressive showings which
really blew me away was the richness of the jewelry worn
by the models. Designed by Jasazii McKenzie, a Germany-born
designer who has been living in Jamaica for the past 22
years, the jewelry, to put it mildly, was simply out of
this world.
The unorthodox designer with rasta locks
dropping past her knees has a bohemian spirit and still
plies her trade around the resorts in Jamaica. But with
the high demand for the jewelry growing, Jasazii is now
rethinking her marketing strategy and is opting to launch
a website.
This talented and versatile designer
utilises natural material, mostly semi-precious pearls,
shells, wood, bone, horn, and natural crystals, with a
few man-made crystals, such as the Swarovski line, and
turns them into the most amazing pieces.
All of the models proudly sported jewelry
by Jasazii.
What was especially interesting is that
the jewelry is unisex. They can be worn by all genders
because they are an expression of nature, which is beyond
sex.
Meiling's highly anticipated line, Sabbia,
did not disappoint with her pale, muted colours, all elements
of the sea being greeted to loud applause.
Zadd and Eastman's line was a celebration
of the unique multiethnic. Their flowing garments, colouful,
feminine garments, continue to be a hit with women of
all races.
The gowns by Uzuri, the duo of Marc Dermoth
and Karl Williams, established the fact that these men
know exactly how to drape the curves of a woman's body.
Their designs can also be worn by a woman with a little
flesh on her bones and not just the ultra-slim model.
Now regarded as one of the Caribbean's
premier designers, their evening gowns had the crowd oohing
and aahing, with some getting out of chairs and clapping
in appreciation. The designs were bold and sexy and international
models such as Jaunel McKenzie, Nadine Willis and Sunna
sure did the designers proud as they swayed down the runway.
Unfortunately, I missed Claudia Pegus since she showed
on the last night and, by then, I was on a plane back
to Trinidad.
Caribbean Fashion Week is a bold celebration
of the talents of the people of this region. Hats off
to Pulse for coming up with concept to showcase the versatility
of our people. It also showcased the intense appeal of
the black Caribbean model and the immense inroads they
are making internationally, with all the lucrative modelling
contracts they have garnered, not to mention the covers
and editorials in top international magazines.
The Pulse Entertainment Group is encouraged
by its success, and continues to work extra hard to further
cement its reputation as a strong and professional organisation
in the fashion industry.
Caribbean Fashion Week is now being beamed
to 120 countries around the world by Fashion TV, the Style
Network and Pulse's own Caribbean Fashion Weekly.
I am sure that by 2006 they will be doing
it even bigger and better. Hats off to Kingsley Cooper,
head honcho at the Pulse Entertainment Group, and Romae
Gordon, creative director, for a job well done and a concept
which I am certain can only go from strength to strength.
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