–Dr Safeeya Mohammed
guardian.wemagazine@gmail.com
Dis Is We Style–a vibrant celebration of the distinctive style and creativity flourishing within T&T’s fashion industry–has touched down! Carded to take place over the course of a week at the end of May 2024, this fashion extravaganza will showcase an array of appealing events, including mesmerising runway shows, captivating exhibitions, enlightening workshops, and much more.
Tourism Trinidad Limited was thrilled to announce the launch of this fashion festival at a venue renowned for its role in promoting and preserving the arts and culture of T&T, Queen’s Hall. The launch, hosted by creative director Richard Young, coincided with the calendar date for next year and was done so that people could ‘Save The Date’ and plan beyond the Carnival celebrations.
Carla Cupid, the CEO of Tourism Trinidad Limited, speaking at the launch, expressed enthusiasm, saying, “In keeping with our mantra that Trinidad is always in Season, we are finally making this a firmer reality with our festivals schedule. We are truly thrilled to unveil this remarkable event which exemplifies the talent and ingenuity of our local fashion industry.
“Our talents are world-class, and we need to start creating space locally to invite the world to come and enjoy it. This festival stands as a testament to the unwavering commitment and passion of our home-grown designers, and we take immense pride in supporting their endeavours. This all fits into TTL’s strategic festival plans which will see persons now having options beyond the Mas for festivals held over several days which include music, culinary and, of course, fashion.”
These sentiments were echoed by Ms Simone Thorne-Mora Quinones, the Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Tourism Culture and the Arts. She emphasised the significance of the fashion festival, saying, “This launch represents a pivotal moment for our nation, as it will highlight our distinct culture and boundless creativity. We are proud to lend our support to this event and eagerly anticipate its continued success.”
The festival will feature a stellar line-up of T&T’s leading creators and many more. Additionally, designers from around the globe will also be showcased, adding a truly global flair to the festivities.
“Vibrant, creative, and innovative, this is what comes to mind when one contemplates the diverse array of offerings in Trinidad’s tourism sector and our local fashion industry,” Aisha Stewart, Project Lead for the Global Value Chain(GVC) Project, FashionTT shared.
“It is with great pleasure that FashionTT takes part in the unveiling of this remarkable initiative, celebrating and emphasising the inherent harmonies between fashion and festival tourism. We take pride in showcasing the exceptional craftsmanship of the GVC designers, a group of 11 individuals poised to exhibit their talents on the global stage. Under the guidance of General Manager Lisa Marie Daniel, FashionTT spearheads two teams of designers, who will embark on separate trade missions to New York and the United Kingdom in June and July 2023 respectively.”