The Guyana fashion weekend 2007, held at the Buddy’s International Hotel, got off to a very good start last evening with an excellent display of fashion locally, regionally and internationally.
The brainchild of local and international designer Sonia Noel, the event was handled with strict
professionalism. The time printed on the tickets was 19:00 hrs, this time was upheld and may have hurt those who like to be *fashionably late*. According to a source, at 18:00 hrs the first two designers scheduled to display their pieces already had their models ready for the catwalk; all they had to do is keep cool until show time. This alone shows the level of preparedness and professionalism present in the organizing and executing this presentation.
The models were excellent in their presentation of the pieces they were selected to perform in, the females were graceful and poised as they strutted their stuff down the catwalk. Their appearance came to the pleasure of the men in attendance. The swimsuit and lingerie segments were exceptionally entertaining and fun to watch. The models were of differing ages and body types. The designers expertly fitted them with pieces which matched each body type and age exquisitely. The male contingent was atheistically received by the many females in attendance. There was hearty applause, whistles of approval and even shouts of encouragement coming from the packed conference room. The men moved confidently along the catwalk displaying swimsuits, shorts & casual wear. There was one difference when a male and a female model appeared together holding hands wearing matching black lingerie. They appeared to the pleasure and satisfaction of the gathering.
The music chosen for the event was mainly soca, pop, and some funk. This fast -paced music was no
challenge for the well-trained models who were able to step to the beats with accuracy and style. There was one notable change in the music which caught my attention. Designer Cleon Cummings, out of the USA, started his segment of the program with Vybz Kartel. This was the only time during the evening that a dub, hip hop, and reggae mix was added to the music selections.
The designers who showcased their outfit brought a blend of the various styles of clothing. There were sizzling displays of swimwear and lingerie, elegant displays of casual wear, and to a lesser extent evening and formal wear. Some designers decided to spice up their displays with body and face paintings, costumes, and one designer even used hats in addition to the designs. Some designers displayed their matching male and female pieces which was a good sign of versatility. The majority of the designers opted to use a mixture of male and female models for their presentations. Sonia Noel on the other hand decided to showcase her collection utilizing only male models. This decision was certainly not contested by the female contingent of the large audience.
On the down side, my opinion is that the seating accommodations left a lot to be desired. There was no clear
distinction between the V.I.P and L.I.P-less important people- seating areas. I was made to understand the only difference between the V.I.P tickets and the ordinary tickets was complimentary drinks. Some parts of the room were still hot despite the fact the air conditioning was on. Despite this, the evening was hailed as a success by the many patrons who made this a sold out affair. This event has undoubtedly propelled the fashion industry, the entertainment arena, the tourism sector and by virtue of that the country even more unto the international scene in a positive light.
From all indications the event was a tremendous success. It was considered a success not only because it was sold out, but because there were several notable figures present. Some of the more notworthy individuals there were His Excellency President Bharrat Jagdeo, the Minister of Tourism- Mr. Maniram Prashad – and Franchise owner for the Miss Guyana World pageant and M.P. Mr. Odinga Lamumba. With this level of support the event was bound to attract the attention it received.
By Andrew Ross