Caribbean Fashion Plus Week begins Oct 31

This is the second year of the event hosted by Carivog International organisation which has had over 20 years of experience working in the plus-size industry and as former franchise holders of the TT Miss Big and Beautiful pageant. CFPW takes place from October 31 to November 4 at different venues throughout Trinidad.

CFPW will feature two runway shows and several fashion and business seminars geared towards the long term development of the plus-size fashion industry.

Poise, posture plus many more runway training skills were taught to the hand-picked selection of plus-size models who were accepted to participate in the event. The models worked for six weeks with Carivog International Founder and Chief Executive Officer Sheanna Alleyne and Model Director Valerie Noriega, who took them through a series of workshops, practicing and perfecting their runway walks. The experience also included workshops on personal development, self-esteem building as well as training on appropriateness of dress for the fuller figured woman for different occasions. Models received guidelines on make-up from Lester Rouseo and an insight on the working of the modelling industry from Willis Francis.

Models also participated in several creative photo shoots done with New York fashion blogger Leanna Camacho, experimental photographer Sancho Francisco and a collaboration photo shoot with Scully Photography. CFPW also hosted “pop up” photo shoots on the Brian Lara Promenade, Port-of-Spain on October 12 and another on October 19 on Library Corner, San Fernando. Another was scheduled for yesterday evening in Arima. Photographers on the CFPW Facebook page were given short notice of the venues for these shoots and models would be at the venues waiting for photographers to turn up and begin shooting.

These TT models will be joined by 11 international models from Venezuela, Puerto Rico, New York, St Croix, Toronto and as far as South Korea. The models will have the opportunity to walk the runway first at the “Pan In Style” runway show and after party happening at Sfrozata Pan yard, St Augustine on November 3. The second is the final “Runway Caribbean” happening at the Cascadia Hotel ballroom on November 4.

Feature designer of CFPW 2012 is Guyanese designer, Sonia Noel and her Marishka’s Designs who over the last 15 years has become one of the more recognisable names in the directory of Caribbean designers. “Sonia has been a veritable ‘daughter of soil’ whose tireless work in Guyana made her country proud when she was awarded at the 2011 British Virgin Islands Fashion Weekend the accolade of Caribbean Fashion Ambassador. She has also received the GMSA Award for her involvement in youth development and promotion of the local fashion industry,” a release from Carivog said.

This will be Sonia’s first attempt at designing a fully plus-size collection and she will be presenting two collections, one at each CFPW runway show. Joining Sonia Noel in the representation of Guyana at CFPW is design label Timeless by designer Andrea Brathwaite.

From Trinidad and Tobago, designers falling into the more experienced category who are showing collections at CFPW include award winning Heather Jones designs. Other equally innovative local labels catering to the plus-size market are Concept Studios by Dexter Jennings, Charter Designs by Orson Charter, The Cloth by Robert Young and In Collection plus-size swimwear by Eula Reid.

CFPW will also feature designers new to the challenge of plus-size fashion, which comprise both experienced and debut fashion designers.

Anne Marie Alexis, 2012 graduate of the Caribbean Academy of Fashion Design, will debut her first ever complete plus-size fashion line, along with custom wool woven fashions from Designs by LESA G, by Lesa Gonzales. First time designer and CFPW TT model Designs by Chinsy, by Chinyere Thomas will also be having her debut both as a designer as well as for a full plus-size collection. She will be joined by Jay Jay Designs and Wendy and Cheryl Designs.

Retailers have also come forward to showcase their styling and plus-size catalogue selections and they are Dvog, Plus Express and So Esteem.