Runways of the Caribbean
The promise of flawless coastlines, balmy breezes, and tropical drinks in hand are usually reason enough to hop a flight to the Caribbean. Add stunning fashions, industry insiders, and a pulsing, Junkanoo-tinged bass line and you would have found yourself at the Islands of the World Fashion Week.
Held this past November, in Nassau, Bahamas, the first annual event shone a long-overdue spotlight on both emerging and established fashion designers hailing from or operating businesses in island states around the globe—from Indonesia to Cuba, Haiti to St. Lucia. In addition, "the event served to bring awareness to key island state concerns: HIV/AIDS education, poverty elimination, and protecting our natural environments," said Arianne Etuk, COO of the event.
Attracting a well-heeled mix of international designers, fashion executives, buyers, press, and the ubiquitous, deep-pocketed fashionistas—the opportunities to mingle and network were endless. Each day featured back-to-back runway shows at the island's British Colonial Hilton. Aside from a few shows starting, well, "fashionably late," attendee, diplomat Julie Egan added, "the chic and intimate environment, lighting, seating, music all created a high-energy vibe that flowed throughout the week."
Designers and judges included established names such as Peter Ingwerson and Kevan Hall who showed their inspired collections respectively during the opening and closing receptions, hosted at the pristine Atlantis Resort, Paradise Island. Buzz builders included Nick Verreos of Project Runway and Nole Marin of America's Next Top Model, and recipient of the Humanitarian Designer Award, Kenneth Cole.
What's a fashion week without the after parties? Highlights included the Ministry of Tourism event where a local Junkanoo band set the festive mood with ease (think drums, whistles, horns and cowbells), and the lavish closing bash at Peter Nygard's world-renowned private residence, Nygard Cay. Not to mention the aromatic and full-flavored Bahamian cuisine was so tempting that even the models couldn't resist.