CREATE

CARIBBEAN EXPORT DEVELOPMENT AGENCY - CREATE 02FASHION - FASHIONFORWARD

industry the significant contributor to regional GDP that it is capable of being.” And understanding the makeup and requirements of those critical ingredients to drive future growth are essential. For the fashion industry a key element is the design sector and for regional growth to occur every effort must be made to enhance, empower and drive the designers who are at the heart of this sector. More importantly however, must be the realization by those talented designers that any design house they seek to establish is in fact a complete business and not just an expression of their creative talent. These businesses must be treated as such and require the input that any other business would need to facilitate a successful operation. Explaining this, a passionate Cooper emphasizes that, “Our designers must be able to produce marketable collections regularly and have the ability within their businesses to create, produce and sell in reasonable quantities.” Of course this is certainly not always the case as most continue to struggle to produce multiple collections annually or even have the capacity to fill multiple orders. Cooper believes that the key inputs which are required for the development and growth of the industry, can be listed as follows: • Increased training options, which will lead to more and better trained designers • Funding opportunities, including venture funds, appropriate grants, partnerships and other equity options • Business management, including a more serious and focused approach to business generation. • Greater and more enlightened Government and grant agency support • Production facilities, capable of significantly increased quality output • Increased guidance, at an international level • Increased assistance for institutions currently contributing to designer development and related support services Despite the challenges, the region has still been able to produce notable success in the area of fashion. Most recognizable would be Cedella Marley of Jamaica and Meiling from Trinidad and Tobago who have both been able to achieve some international success. Sustaining that success itself also becomes a challenge as frustrated designers struggle to raise capital, find adequate production capacity and often blindly navigate the hostile waters of the international waters without much guidance. There is certainly a very strong argument to be made for more adequate support for the very promising section of the Caribbean’s creative industries. In fact in the UK alone the fashion industry is the largest employer of all the creative industries, directly employing 816,000 people. The Caribbean Export Development Agency recognizing the importance and potential contribution of the industry has stepped forward to help push forward the development of the necessary elements. Developing their signature initiative, “Caribbean Essence” which took regional designers to do showings in London Fashion Week, London Olympics, Berlin and Caribbean Fashion Week. There is still a lot more to be done but when asked about the future of the region’s fashion industry, Cooper, who is also the Chairman of the Caribbean Fashion Industry Association is quick to say, “Very bright, if we do what’s required!”

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