Fashion, culture, creativity take centre stage as ORIGIN opens tonight

Guyana’s premier fashion event, ORIGIN, opens this evening at the Railway Courtyard, ushering in three nights of fashion, creativity, culture, and culinary experiences as some of the country’s leading designers showcase their latest collections.
The festival is one of several initiatives spearheaded by the Tourism, Industry and Commerce Ministry to advance Guyana’s Orange Economy.
The event is being staged in collaboration with the Office of the Prime Minister and the Culture, Youth and Sport Ministry with a focus on strengthening the country’s creative industries and promoting local talent.
Thirty designers will participate in this year’s festival, with 10 designers showcasing each night.

The line-up includes established names in the local fashion industry alongside emerging designers who are being given a platform to present their work.
In addition to the runway shows, the final night will feature five awards recognising excellence within the industry.
Additionally, subject Minister Susan Rodrigues said during a recent interview related that this year’s festival places a stronger emphasis on capacity building and industry development.
She stated that designers have benefited from workshops to improve craftsmanship and production techniques, while models have undergone intensive professional training ahead of the event.
Rodrigues mentioned that the wider goal is to ensure talented Guyanese can build sustainable careers in the creative industries.
“We want young people with talent to be able to rely on those talents for a living. We don’t want it to be a side job or a side gig. We want this to be your career,” she said.
The ORIGINS Guyana Fashion Festival forms part of the Government’s goal to expand the country’s tourism and orange economy sectors while showcasing Guyanese creativity to local and international audiences.
Visitors will also be able to browse a marketplace featuring local fashion pieces available for purchase, as well as a Taste of Guyana village highlighting Guyanese cuisine. Gates will open at 17:00h each evening, with the fashion presentations beginning at 18:30h.