Caribbean Export Development Agency (Caribbean Export) continues to show support for the region’s creative industry through their involvement in Caribbean Fashion Week (CFW) 2012.
The Caribbean’s premier fashion and style event celebrates 12 years this June and the Agency is excited to support the initiative and by extension, the vibrant and growing Caribbean fashion industry. Caribbean Export sponsored 11 designers from 9 CARIFORUM States to participate in CFW, and these designers will also showcase their work during the Agency’s London Engage initiative during the Summer Olympics.
These collections were filmed by Caribbean Export and from this a video documentary will be produced and shown during the London Engage Initiative. Caribbean Export will also select three of the participating designers to showcase pieces of their collection in a live catwalk in London.
From June 7 – 11, 2012 CFW showcased collections from designers representing the various countries from across the Caribbean region, in addition to top stylists from Africa, Asia, Europe, Latin America and North America.
“Caribbean Export views this event as one that is in line with the Agency’s focus
on export development, marketing, and capacity building, all of which are aimed at increasing international awareness and business generation for the region’s fashion industry”, commented Pamela Coke Hamilton, Executive Director. “CFW is the seminal fashion, entertainment and lifestyle event that has come to epitomize the essence of Caribbean style.
The Agency therefore recognizes the importance of not only this event, but also similar initiatives, which seek to showcase and drive the continued development and enhancements of the regional creative industries”, Coke Hamilton concluded.
Caribbean Fashion Week is supported under the European Union’s (EU) 10th European Development Fund (EDF) Regional Private Sector Development Programme (RPSDP). The feedback received from the spectators and participating designers was very positive and engaging. Sonia Noel, a designer from Guyana stated, “I am grateful to Caribbean Export for giving me this opportunity to showcase at CFW. I am very happy with the reviews my collection is receiving, and this is what energises me and reignites my passion for the fashion industry.”
For additional information about Caribbean Fashion Week and the upcoming Fashion Showcase in London, please contact Mr. Christopher McNair, Manager – Competitiveness and Innovation at [email protected] and copied to Mr. Leonel Naut, Advisor – Competitiveness and Innovation at [email protected].