Creations by Georgetown-based fashion designer, Sonia Noel may not be on the runway of New York Fashion Week, but her 15 years of exquisite design concepts, rivals those of top-notch designers such as Donna Karan and Tracy Reece.
The fashion maven and winner of the Caribbean Fashion Ambassador award has built up quite a reputation for presenting stunning looks on the fashion scene, with her signature Black and White collection of dresses with embellished hemlines, tops with intricate necklines and floor-length gowns that dazzle audiences.
Her elegant pocketbooks, hats and intricately designed jewelry, make the world renown Guyana Fashion Week CEO, one of the most recognizable names in the Guyana garment industry.
Known for working with natural fabric, Noel’s fanciful snowy white pieces showcase the colonial style latticework design found in the architecture of her homeland.
This season, Mariska Designs – Noel’s brand, will unveil an alluring swimwear cover-up resort collection designed from floral print, and cut from sheer fabric.
In addition to a bridal line that will be launched for the upcoming bridal season and destination-wedding package, the small-town girl plans to sell her collections in boutiques in the Caribbean, and North America.
“I would like to see the industry market and showcase brands at Fashion Week events throughout the Caribbean, in addition to marketing designers at trade shows, said Noel.
As a featured designer in “Shabeau,” “She Caribbean,” “Caribbean Bell,” and “Posh Caribbean” to name a few, the fashion-forward lady describes Mariska Designs, as a unique hybrid of Guyanese craftsmanship, Caribbean ingenuity and an all pervasive universal style.
“Designs can be worn from the beach to the ballroom and from housewives to first ladies,” added Noel, who notes that she has proven her grit by participating in runway shows in St. Kitts, Trinidad and Tobago, United Stes Virgin Islands, Antigua and Barbuda, St. Vincent, Suriname, Grenada and many other countries.
A talent to be reckoned with, Noel who recently returned from a sponsored trip to India, lends her celebrity status to several causes that especially impact the lives of youth. The Sonia Noel Foundation for the creative arts hosts the Guyana Model Search and Designers Portfolio.
This initiative, she said, has created many opportunities to expose the talents of young people, as she continues to channel her talent with talk show Diatribe, and a reality TV series that keeps her busy.
As if this is not enough, Noel is currently prepping for the Miss Bartica Pageant, a project dear to her heart because the pageant is held is the village on the Essequibo River, where she was born.
Photo by Tangerine Clarke
