Business View Caribbean, November/December 2018

6 7 CARIBBEAN EXPORT SUPPORTS THE BUSINESS OF FASHION IN THE CARIBBEAN F ashion is a key sector of the region’s creative industries with designers creat- ing unique styles inspired by their en- vironments. Caribbean Export Develop- ment Agency (Caribbean Export), in cooperation with the European Union, supported the partic- ipation of eight CARIFORUM based designers in this year’s International Fashion Festival Boutique Business (IFFBB) 2018 in Barbados, giving them an opportunity to showcase their creativity and meet with the international buy- ers that were present.The event was managed by the Caribbean Market Center in partnership with Liberty Fairs NewYork and the Barbados Investment Development Cooperation (BIDC). Indira Moss fromThe Bahamas pre- sented her label ILashan,which includes a range from swimsuits to ready-to-wear and bridal designs. Current WE-Xport participant, Kimya Glasgow, showcased her classic Carib- bean look for the modern woman that presents a relaxed elegance influ- enced by the Carib- bean aesthetic com- ing from St.Vincent and the Grenadines. Not forgetting the male designers,David André from Haiti,with his self-named David André Collection, showed how diverse you can be with a single color palette. One of the highly anticipated events was a workshop under the theme Fashion is Big Business,where attendees heard from Sharifa Murdock, Co-Owner of the leading business to business fashion trade event Liberty Fairs; QuincyTheodore founder of Brooklyn Circus, an incubation program for emerging designers; and Samantha Belfer, Senior Buyer responsible for finding new emerging designers for luxury department store Saks Fifth Avenue.“We know the Caribbean is burgeoning with talent within the creative industries, but our creatives also have to be good at business. Caribbean Export is pleased to be able to support CARIFORUM designers participate and leverage the opportunity,”said Alison Beckles,Services Consultant at Caribbean Export. Other designers partici- pating included Bhwram Atelier and Harvey Robertson fromTrinidad and Tobago; Natalie Eastmond and RoyThompson from Bar- bados; and Kristin Frazer from the Brit- ishVirgin Islands.

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