Caribbean designers sizzled on the runway of the Holiday Events Centre in the Peachtree state over the Memorial Day Weekend, Saturday, May 28,
to celebrate the debut of Guyana Fashion Showcase International (CFS) in Atlanta.
Philbert Gidding, creator and chief visionary gathered stellar professionals, Miss Guyana USA 1995, Onika Blazes, Socialite Sybil Chester, Lady Sebrina, Yana Lu, and others, to present the majestic show that inspired applause for the spectrum of fashion forward collections.
Glamour is alive and well after COVID-19 that stymied many shows, except GFS that proved its willpower, staging a 2021 show in Brooklyn, before putting on excellent and creativity catwalk presentation in Georgia.
House of Raphelita by Bahamian David Rolle, fashion designs and styling blended beautifully under the flood lights.
Rolle kicked off the show with a versatile collection. The showman was clearly on fashion point, dressing models in sexy attire. His metallic pantsuit with an asymmetric neckline and balloon cape, and matching bell bottoms, was just one of his eyepopping pieces among a magnificent, floral halter back gown, a fuchsia skinny-leg pant, matched with an off-the-shoulder bodice, and accentuated with a waistline of feathers.
An iridescent brocade dress was all the rave as part of his extensive classic women’s wear line that ripped the runway.
The Phoenix of Denim by Karen Hughes, landed on the runway with great technique. The designer’s fashion-forward ideas using recycled denim, is her way of promoting a greener world.
The Guyana-based designer who made her foray into Atlanta, saturated the runway with exquisite creations, the second largest of her contribution to recycling Demin, or “up-cycle” denim as she calls it.
“Denim is durable. It also has sentimental value to me because I remember the work our forefather did on the plantation. Therefore, I hold great value to denim, said Hughes, noting that she accessorized her outfits with jewelry from her mother ‘s collection of seeds found in Guyana. The artisan, she said, is an expert in cured fruit seeds that she makes marketable in Guyana.
The collection also highlighted painted on art etched by her students at the Burrows School of Art where she teaches as part of her Kosmic Vibes brand.
Jamaican designer Rich Bailey is all about astuteness when it comes to designing men’s outfit. His brand is of high quality, and affordable. This distinct standard was seen in his legendary patchwork jacket, and detailed suites cut from shiny satin fabric. With 2000 hand stitching detailing, his bespoke suites are shapely, and fused with great bonding, and craftmanship.
He said he was inspired by his family of Tailors to create phenomenal outfits, adding that he has a passion for fashion.
“My eldest brother was the first to start the craft that ran through the family bloodline. “As a young child I learned tailoring before I had an interest in the trade, but I later developed a great sense of creativity. I can use any color and fabric to do whatever I want to do said Baily whose vivid colors and contemporary, cross-stitching creations lit up the runway.
With beautiful models, some from far away as Nevada, strutting their stuff on the fashion runway, the show dazzled with elegant, sophisticated, ready-to-wear colorful attire, that Lisa Nichole is known for.
The classy lady, all but 5ft tall, is a giant when it comes to designing. She delivered over a dozen looks of pure sassiness. Creations in green, blue, black, yellow, orange, fuchsia, and floral, each piece, more stunning than the other.
Trending as Atlanta’s top designer, Nicole used playful fabric, matching the design for which it was intended. The ensembles fit the models flawlessly. From Plunging Vee-neck, to halter-back, asymmetric cut, crop tops, balloon bottom gowns, short pant suit, swimsuits with whimsical cover-ups, every creation was brilliant, exquisite, elegant, and over-the-top amazing.
Nicole, who will be rocking the runway at Fall Fashion Week in NY, thought of every angle to cut from for her collection. The “Be A Boss” creator whose tagline – Bold Brave, Be Powerful, Be Un-stoppable, makes her a fashion force to be reckoned with around the country, gets her radiant sense of style from St. Thomas, USVI where she traces her roots.
Philbert Giddings, praised the work of the designers and all who made the show a success and is inspired to take the show on the road, including, to the Bahamas, and possible back to Atlanta. He said he will partner with Nicole, a celebrity Bravo TV reality star of Married to Medicine, whose pop-up shop at the show, offered patrons an opportunity to wear her pieces.
