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of the opportunities available for
Caribbean architects in using ‘green’
architecture and ethnic material for
design. A key contact was made during
the showcase with the Royal Institute
of British Architects (RIBA). Discussions
focused on the importance of having a
better mutual arrangement between
CARIFORUM and British architects,
as well as further collaboration
with the Federation of Caribbean
Association of Architects (FCAA), a
regional architecture organisation with
members from CARIFORUM, Cuba and
the FCORs.
Caribbean Essence Showcase -
Fashion
Caribbean Essence was designed
to facilitate the entry of Caribbean
fashion and jewellery designers into
the European Union (EU), through
utilisation of the CARIFORUM-EU
Economic Partnership Agreement
(EPA). In its maiden showcase, thework
of six designers was unveiled during
the African and Caribbean Business
Experience Expo (AACBE) in London on
August 4, 2012. The platform sought
to build on the momentum generated
during the presentation, ‘Caribbean
Collections’ at London Fashion Week,
which was held in February 17-22,
2012, in partnership with Jamaica
Promotions Corporation (JAMPRO)
and the Caribbean Fashion Industry
Association (CAFIA).
Participating fashion design houses
were Sonia Noel Designs from Guyana,
drennaLuna from Jamaica, and Meiling Inc. from Trinidad and Tobago. Their work
was complemented by accessories from Veve Collection in Haiti, Atelier Doré in
Suriname, and Ibis Ceramic Jewellery in Trinidad and Tobago. On this occasion,
Caribbean Essence took the form of a runway show, with top United Kingdom
(UK)-based models showcasing the collections. The objective of Caribbean
Essence was to create market positioning opportunities and tangible leads for
potential business partnerships for Caribbean designers within the UK and the
rest of the EU. This is achieve through a live showcase of their collections and
networking sessions.
The London event also presented a view of the fashion design potential that
is available within the Caribbean, highlighting variety of design and market
versatility; provided designers with an enhanced view of the technical and
management skills needed for success in the global fashion industry; and
identified future intervention tools and opportunities that Caribbean Export
could develop to better assist regional designers to better position themselves in
the world markets.
Building on the London experience, the Caribbean Essence platform showcased
five fashion designers at The Gallery Runway Fashion Show in Berlin, Germany
from July 2-4, 2013. Designers for this event included Fifth Element Designs
from Barbados, Oriett Domenech from the Dominican Republic, drennaLuna in
Jamaica, and Heather Jones Designs and Meiling Inc. from Trinidad and Tobago.
Subsequent to this initiative, four designers received contracts for the distribution
of their designs in Germany and other countries within the EU. The objectives of
participating in the initiative were to: present the collective brand of “Caribbean
Essence“ to buyers in the European Union market, in order to identify potential
business opportunities in the industry; enable CARIFORUM designers access to
one of the premier buying trade shows for the boutique market in the world,
thus providing opportunity to generate potential business orders; enable the
participant designers to gain a better understanding of doing business in the
various EU markets through the provision of pre-trade fair coaching; source and
invite additional buyers within the European Union to visit designers exhibiting at
‘The Gallery’, in order to enhance the potential business that could be realized for
them during the trade fair; and establish long-standing relationships with buyers
in the European Union for future events that Caribbean Export coordinates in the
creative industries, in this case with the fashion boutique market.
Participants in the 2015 hosting of Caribbean Essence were able to take of
advantage of the designer coaching, market research, EU Buyer Directory and
marketing services that were available. Immediate outcomes including the signing
of contracts by three designers among Boutiques, Retail Buyers and Distributors
ENHANCING COMPETITIVENESS
AND PROMOTING INNOVATION