T&T's Anya Ayoung-Chee, winner of Project Runway 2011, will present her winning collection at the fourth annual Ocean Style Fashion Showcase scheduled to take place in Montego Bay, Jamaica, today. She will share the spotlight with her mentor Meiling, as well as other presenting couturiers at the invitation-only event scheduled to take place at the ATL Automotive Showroom in Montego Bay. Organised by T&T businessman and Ocean Style Magazine editor-in-chief Douglas Gordon, the stylish affair will form part of an exclusive three-part weekend of activities from Friday through Sunday, with the theme: Fashion, Luxury, Fun.
Held in association with Land Rover and Range Rover, Appleton Estate Jamaica Rum and Sandals Resorts, it will be attended by celebrities including former NBA superstar John Salley, track athlete Donovan Bailey, as well as actors Anthony Anderson, Quinton Aaron and Rockmond Dunbar, who have confirmed their attendance at the Ocean Style event. "I am so thrilled to be attending this year's fashion showcase in stunning Montego Bay," said Ayoung-Chee, in an e-mail response to the T&T Guardian. "I cannot wait to see what Ocean Style has in store for this highly anticipated weekend. Not to mention I get to return to one of my favourite places in the world...Jamaica." Gordon, the visionary behind Ocean Style Magazine and television series Trail Blazers, expressed his delight that Ayoung-Chee accepted his invitation to present her creations at the Fashion Showcase.
With respect to her success on the Lifetime reality series, he said: "It is just reward and recognition for her talent and performance over the course of the Project Runway Season. "Even more remarkable is the message it sends about determination, perseverance and focus in moving past challenges and detractors. Anya's victory is something the entire Caribbean has embraced and that in itself is awesome," he said. Jamaica's Sandra Kennedy will showcase her beautiful sea-island cotton resort collection at the fashion show, while Sophia Max-Brown will outfit the men in Hugh Boss and Calvin Klein finery carried in her Kingston boutique for the event in which Caribbean Airlines along with Just Bet, Cinnamon Hill, JSBarkats, Trailblazers, CVM TV, Jamaica Observer, and eZines are also partners.
International designers presenting at the event include Herve Leger, Elie Saab, Emilio Pucci, Marchesa, Roberto Cavalli, Bluemarine, Reem Acra and Carlos Miele. Shoes for the event will be supplied by Edmundo Castillo. But before they get down to the business of fashion Ayoung-Chee and Meiling are likely to hobnob with A-listers at a welcome beach party at Sandals Cay. Attention will turn to a celebrity golf tournament to be played at the famed Cinnamon Hill golf course the following day, where Olympic Champion Donovan Bailey and his team will seek to retain their title.
The Montego Bay Chamber of Commerce and Ocean Style have sweetened the winnings for this event, however. Apart from the US$1 million for the hole in one, golfers with their "A" game can also take away a Land Rover LR2 and an Audi A1. Once again, proceeds from the golf tournament will go towards a Style Scholarship Fund established by the Montego Bay Chamber of Commerce and Ocean Style, designed to assist Caribbean students pursuing degrees in fashion or the arts in North America.