Fashion will engage and inform at an exhibit at the National Museum and Art Gallery in Port-of-Spain, as the history of fashion in Trinidad becomes the focus of attention. The exhibit began yesterday and runs until June 5. Together with author of A Spirited Butterfly, Rosemary Stone, co-ordinator Nimah Muwakil Zukari will present an enriching display of pieces and fashion implements that promises to showcase the background of local fashion.
Finding elements of fashion
Thought of the exhibition was bred some three years ago, when Zukari said she met Stone at a function and learnt that she was working on a book solely about the history of fashion in Trinidad. "It immediately sparked something in me. I thought it would make for a great exhibition at the museum," said Zukari. Stone, former fashion editor at the Trinidad Express newspaper, is credited with sourcing the information, much of which was used in her book, and certainly much of the items that will be displayed during the exhibition. "There will be clothing, sewing implements and pieces that people would have used a long time ago," said Zukari. Stone's book was launched at the museum yesterday.
A spirited butterfly
Impressed by the author's knowledge on local fashion's history, Zukari pointed out that the book, A Spirited Butterfly, included but was not limited to the development of the local industry from the years of Emancipation. "The book has several chapters that draw focus to a number of things, including Industrialisation and how that had an impact on fashion in Trinidad. She also speaks about the World Wars and how designers like Meiling, Heather Jones and Claudia Pegus emerged." Zukari said the book coincided with the start of UTT's fashion programme, and would now act as an essential tool to many of the students involved in the programme at the local university.
Exploring the forest
The theme at the museum during the exhibition will reflect this year's T&T Fashion Week theme, The Forest. "A lot of natural materials will be used, with bamboo being a big part of the display," explained Zukari, adding that organisers anticipated that this exhibit would be a real crowd puller. "We expect a lot of students from UTT. As a matter of fact, some of the students worked with Rosemary so they're anxious to see it all unveiled," Zukari highlighted. "It's all about showcasing the rich history we have here, when it comes to fashion," an eager Zukari pinpointed, adding that the struggles people of the past overcame to later birth a local fashion industry, was worthy of commendation.
For Rosemary Stone, this is an exciting time. She said her experience over the years, from being a designer doing dress lines at Glamour Girl, added to her 26-year tenure as fashion editor, has equipped her with much knowledge on the topic of fashion and its history. "A Spirited Butterfly is the first of its kind in Trinidad. No one has ever done anything like this. We have a rich, wonderful fashion history and I'm excited to reveal it," Stone asserted.