First Indigenous fashion line to be featured during Sonia Noel’s Fashion Week 2016

Indigenous designers will be making their debut during Guyana’s most celebrated fashion designer Sonia Noel’s Fashion Weekend extravaganza from November 6-13.
Minister within the Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs Ministry, Valerie Garrido-Lowe, who has direct responsibility for women development, met Noel, fellow international designer Richard Young, Indigenous designers and cousins Vanda and Abigail Buckley, in her office last week to discuss the undertaking.
“It is definitely going to bring a special element… because the world actually is looking at Indigenous influence and it’s not just the clothing, it is the medicine it is everything else and there is something special about it and people definitely like to feel special. I can imagine one of Miss Allicock’s design on the red carpet,” Noel stated.
The Allicock’s have been operating almost silently in the business for a number of years and Noel feels that the time has come for them to share with Guyana and the rest of the world the uniqueness of the Indigenous peoples and their culture.
Minister Garrido-Lowe during last week’s Heritage celebrations at Castellani House proposed the inclusion of an Indigenous line for next year’s celebrations; an idea Noel fully endorsed.
The Minister said this added feature will serve as the impetus for the much touted November Fashion Week, adding “we are doing it right,” while Noel said “I am super, super excited about this. There is a freshness that will come to the party.”
Fellow designer Vanda said she too is “excited to be with Sonia. I have always admired her work and I am happy to be a part of this… very excited.”
The recently launched Rupununi Essence Line has also received positive reviews from Minister Garrido-Lowe and Noel, who noted that the world is turning to alternative medicine – a culture the Indigenous peoples are a part of from time immemorial.
Noel however, called on the persons responsible for marketing this line of product to ensure it graces the shelves of stores and supermarkets, among other businesses all across Guyana. The world’s “Indigenous Fashion weekend,” is an initiative that has been endorsed by the United Nations.