High (flying) style

Makin’ Style searches for the Caribbean’s best new fashion design talent

  • Shari Demas in Deron Attzs. Photo by Andrea De Silva
  • Angel Ross in a design by Deron Attzs, a young designer whose work will be featured at the Makin’ Style afterdark show. Photo by Andrea De Silva

Christopher Nathan is both a cabin crew officer with BWIA and a veteran of Trinidad and Tobago’s fashion industry, with years of experience as a model agent and fashion show producer. This year, one of his big dreams comes true: Makin’ Style, the first ever major showcase of Trinidad and Tobago’s fashionwear, featuring designers living in Trinidad and Tobago and those making their livelihood in New York and London, will be presented on 20 and 21 September at Queen’s Hall in Port of Spain.

Nathan, whose company Coco Velvet International is producing the show, says, “It has been Coco Velvet’s mission since its launch in 1997 to make Trinidad and Tobago the official fashion capital of the Caribbean. I have been working on this since then, as well as plans to set up an Institute of Fashion Technology here in Trinidad.” Makin’ Style is planned along similar lines to the famous Fashion Weeks in London and New York. Nathan hopes it becomes a permanent fixture on the fashion calendar.

BWIA West Indies Airways is the event’s platinum sponsor, and Trinidad’s cosmetics major Sacha cosmetics is providing make-up for the show. The focus of Makin’ Style is “the discovery of new fashion design talent,” Nathan says. Over the two days, everything from corporate to business-wear, kids to tweens to teens, menswear, swimwear, and evening wear will be on show. Nathan explains that, in the first instance, the aim is to encourage Trinidad and Tobago’s fashionistas to buy local, but he hopes it doesn’t end there.

At the launch of Makin’ Style in June this year, BWIA CEO Peter Davies said it was the airline’s responsibility to carry Trinidad and Tobago’s creativity to other destinations. Thirteen of Trinidad and Tobago’s top designers, including Meiling, Claudia Pegus, Heather Jones, Millhouse Menswear, Deron Attzs, KAJ, Bare Essentials, and Zadd & Eastman, participated in the launch. And as many as 33 local designers have registered to take part in Makin’ Style — which makes for a tight schedule, but Nathan envisages between five and eight designers participating in each show. Only the best of the collections will participate in the final gala, expected to be a red carpet affair.

Tickets are available at the Queen’s Hall box office. Call (868) 628-6368 for more information

 

Makin’ Style Trinidad and Tobago Fashion Collections

20 September

• Fashion File One, morning show 9 to 10 a.m.
Children/teenswear designers

• Fashion File Two, lunchtime show 12:15 to 1 p.m.
Corporate/businesswear designers

• Fashion File Three, afterwork show 5 to 6 p.m.
Prêt-à-porter/menswear designers

• Fashion File Four, afterdark show 8 to 9:30 p.m.
Swimwear/glam designers

21 September

• Made in T&T: Gala Fashion Collections 8 to 9:30 p.m.
featuring foreign-based designers

Funding provided by the 11th EDF Regional Private Sector Development Programme Direct Support Grants Programme.
The views expressed on this website are those of the the authors and do not reflect those of the Direct Support Grants Programme.

Close