– a tremendous success
Guyana Fashion Week came to a spectacular close after one week of continuous activities, all designed to upgrade the status and scope of the burgeoning fashion industry in Guyana
Over the last weekend, Guyana witnessed three amazing fashion showcases at the Savannah Suite, Pegasus Hotel Guyana. The shows featured designer collections from local, regional and international clothing brands.
The first runway presentation highlighted a select group of aspiring designers together with a line-up of up-and-coming models, in a production called ‘The new guard’. Winners of the male and female model category, respectively, were Kenny Hercules and Candacy Subrattie. The winner of the aspiring designer award was Linden native, Setra Oselmo with a highly creative showing utilising hair to create spectacular costume art.
The other seven aspiring designers brought interesting storylines to impact on their collections, rendering unique Guyanese style in their creative showings. Candacy Mc Clean, Abeni Sullivan, Tandica Favourite, Stephen Validum, Mark Junor, Audrey Callendar, Shevaun Abel shared the spotlight on that Saturday afternoon showcase of fresh new world style.
Walter Greene, a US-based, Guyanese style connoisseur and fashion editor par excellence commented on the cutting-edge, pushing the envelope contributions of our creative nationals.
There was an Antiguan contingent comprising of three new brands, developing in the tiny nation. All the designers emerging out of a programme were coordinated by Vanda Neale Gardner, under the Antigua Barbuda Festivals Commission, whose creative consultant is none other than, the Caribbean fashion guru, Richard Young.
Based on the vision of Antigua and Barbuda’s Trade, Commerce and Industry, Sports, Culture and National Festivals Minister E P Chet Greene, Young has facilitated this intra-regional interface to promote the Caribbean brand, in spite of its multifaceted components.
Kareem Simon of the ‘Jsimon label’, Kareem Blucher and Krystal Benjamin of ‘KB Squared’ and Shirrine Gillon of ‘Rainbow Expressions’ were elated to participate in a platform beyond their local scope, and boy were they well received.
The collections were a hit! There was also a model contingent from Cura?ao – Face Model Organisation – who featured six striking models in the weekend’s line up.
Other seasoned designer Sonia Noel, CEO of Guyana Fashion Week, presented Nubian Renaissance – a Neo-African twist on her traditional architectural latticing. Tracy Douglas’ modern tie dyes in deep pigments of forest life were a telling signature expression of her tribal influence.
Nelsion Nurse brought a menswear collection, ‘Metamorphosis’, showcasing red, black and white trendy urban-wear revealing the diverse attitudes of todays male. Paula Evans brought her special trademark hand painted flora and fauna motifs, walking on sunshine, on breathing fabrics and returning Guyanese designers – Dawn Vanrossum showed curvaceous couture in high-grade linens, in captivating hues and Stacy Angoy’s afro-centric resort wear was a compelling favourite of the event.
Creative Director and Caribbean fashion guru, Richard Young, says the second longest fashion festival in the Region is indeed proving its mettle. “Sonia Noel was exuberant about the return of GFW, expressing the relevance of its subtitle, ‘On the Pulse’, to the youth empowerment and creative arts mandate.
