FORMING a Caribbean connection is the aim of a fashion expo slated for Barbados later this month.
Headlined Bridal Couture, the one-night event will feature designers from across the Caribbean. These include Shirrine Gillon and Anse Henry from Antigua; Lisa Barton-Volney from St. Lucia; Shernicia Mayers from St. Vincent and Arielle Rock from Barbados.
Hosted by local agency Curvy Revolution Model Management (CRMM) the fashion lines will offer all things bridal including gowns, collections for bridal showers, bachelor and bachelorette parties, lingerie and swimwear worn by models from CRMM and Dream Catcher Model Management from Antigua.
Meanwhile, partners in CRMM Alicia Clarke and Hugh Williams said the event comes just a few weeks after the company’s fifth anniversary and is a continuation of their efforts to bring the regional fashion industry closer together.
“If we don’t do anything for ourselves nothing will happen,” Williams said during a short break at rehearsals. He continued: “We can’t depend on the outside to do that for us, we have to do it for ourselves. Here we’ve been struggling, in Barbados it’s always been touch and go, stop and go.”
Clarke said the answer to a stronger fashion industry is working together. “It is hard, I know but if all the agencies in Barbados get together and work together this industry would be a big thing. I truly believe that,” she said.
The two said the fashion industry in the Caribbean is evolving and CRMM is as well. It is one of the few agencies which includes plus size models in its portfolio. “We want to change the public’s perception of plus size women and people on the whole,” Clarke said. Williams added, “The concept of modeling has changed, as you know in the Caribbean not everybody is slim, we have people of all sizes, ages, we’re small so we have to cater for everyone.”
The January 26th event also creates a space for other businesses in the industry including confectioners and bakers.
Bridal Couture will be held on Saturday, January 26th at the Samuel Jackman Prescod Institute, starting at 7:00 pm.
