Caribbean Fashion Plus Week which was held on the twin islands of Trinidad and Tobago is the first event of its kind to be held for full figured women of the Caribbean. It is a signature event of Carivog International, whose mission is equality for all in the fashion and beauty industry. This event was created to enhance and educate the service providers, manufactures, distributors, retailers, wholesalers, boutique owners of the actual fashion needs of the Caribbean male and female.
Carivog International have been working in the Caribbean community for 
Fashion is known universally as major stimuli for change of attitude. It is a major motivator of a feel good attitude. For years persons of plus size have not been made to feel good about themselves because the fashion industry overlooked their needs for quality, well constructed and beautiful fashions. For a complete era in the world of fashion the differences in human bodies was totally ignored and the world was asked to fit into molds that were totally impossible for some because of build and bone structure, this made some people feel inadequate and subnormal. The Caribbean Fashion Plus Week addressed this void, a committee was formed with professionals in all areas needed for the production and strategic plan was formulated and implemented. 
We live in a Fashion era in which the sizing of some garments created a myth that ‘One Size Fits All’, which produced yet another horror in the world of plus sizes which resulted in the following experience: If the hip fits the waist is too big. Tops never fit because of inadequate bust measurements. The shoulder size is often too small. The Hips are too tight and some sizes were totally left out so the fashion woes of the plus size continued. Women of size were again made to feel inadequate so some tried to fit into the norm which resulted in lots of plus size women walking about in a garment that was way too tight and ill shaped.
Caribbean Fashion Plus Week says ‘One Size does not Fit all’ which reflects the true reality of the fashion community. We believe that designer’s true talent should be utilized in creating garments that can be reproduced in all sizes allowing great fit, great look across the board.
The main highlights of this year’s fashion week were:
A Special Empowerment Seminar: for women of size featuring lectures on wardrobe, hair, makeup, undergarments, self image and varied lifestyle topics.
Pan in Style: a fashion runway held outdoors in the pan yard of Exodus Pan 
Theatre. This runway focuses on the Caribbean Carnival Season which usually runs for three month prior to the Carnival Festival. Fashion for these occasions are comfort wear, resort wear and the designs are usually sex appealing, allows stretch and flexibility for jumping to the soca and pan music. The highlights of the evening along with the fashion showings are the display of Carnival Costumes for plus sizes and the wonderful musical renditions of the Exodus Steel Orchestra, which is made up of a collection of specially tuned steel drums which is brought to life by the talented pan stick of the members of the orchestra who plays from classical and Jazz to Soca, reggae and calypso music.
Runway Caribbean: A showcase of top plus designer from the local, regional and international market. The final runway of the fashion week was held at the Cascadia Hotel and conference centre in Port Spain Trinidad. Participating designers were Pheline of Canada, So Esteem of London, Dexter Jenning, Durante, Dress Me by the Arthur, Phatnfabulous, Tenilliah’s Design, Charter Designs and the Inn Collection. Designers where unable to make this year’s production have already booked there space for 2012.
Team Curvevibzs the models of Caribbean Fashion Plus week were selected from a wide cross section of the plus community, model was screened to represent from size 12 to 32 and also categories petite, average and tall, they were selected on their 
ability to walk and confidence. Most of the models are proportionate in size but special care was taken to include models that represent the body shapes that are heavier to the top or bottom and persons with an oval or rounded shape so a true reflection of the fashion needs would be presented. Most of the models were new to the runway as modeling opportunities for plus size models are still limited.
Within the Caribbean community there exists a vibrant fashion industry but unfortunately like the rest of the world only a small portion caters for plus sizes although over 60% of the population of the Caribbean are plus size. Due to this, most of the population shop online and via travel to other countries.
Recently boutiques have been established catering to the plus size but the fashion designers, garment producers and manufactures of plus garments are still in the budding stages. Our hope is with the presence of this fashion week more emphasis will be placed on developing this aspect of the industry.
Like the rest of the world there is size discrimination, but the Caribbean Woman is proud of her ancestral roots which includes well endowed body shapes. They are proud of their history, They are proud of their heritage, They are proud of their unique body contours that put them in a fashion class all of their own.
As our main purpose is to bring together all artisans of the fashion industry
on a Caribbean based platform to display, discuss and improve the standard and quality of products marketed to the Plus size consumers who have a passion for fashion and fashion design, but find it difficult to access quality local brands that fit for 2012 our aim is to get the involvement of the manufacturing sectors of the region.
It is our hope that by educating the designers, cutters, stitchers, colour and fabric coordinators, of the true need of our Plus size public, then and only then can we embark on transforming and modernizing the fashion industry to better cater to the needs of plus size individuals. For 2012 we will make this education available.
Caribbean Fashion Plus Week is held in the Caribbean but is not only for Caribbean designers and models, We use Runway Caribbean as the fashion platform for designers of all countries. It is our aim to expose the Caribbean population to the best that is available internationally and to encourage our local and regional designers through integration and networking to see their prospective from both a Caribbean and international view point in order to explore both markets.
The average population of the Caribbean is over 40 million of which and 
estimated 60% of the population are plus size. The Caribbean plus population is a vast untapped market which can be quite lucrative for those designers with the vision and creative talent to service this market. We encourage designers to survey, and measure women and men of all plus sizes, in an attempt to cater for their unique body structure.
Designers who provide modern fashions, whose signature speaks to both the Climate of the Caribbean as well as the Multifaceted Cultural Expressions of our people that is so often overlooked will penetrate and capitalize on this market.
Plans are already on the way for the hosting
of 2012 Caribbean Fashion Plus Week, submission for participation by both local and foreign designers and models have already started coming in. We encourage designers and models from all countries that have not already done so to take up the challenge and utilize our platform ‘Runway Caribbean’ of Caribbean Fashion Plus Week as the launching pad into a new and very lucrative market.
Contact us at [email protected] www.caribbeanplussizefashionweek.com
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