33 / 76
33
MEILING INC. - TRINIDAD & TOBAGO
Globally inspired, Meiling Esau is the
Caribbean Premier Fashion Designer.
Meiling started her business in the early
70s in a renovated garage with just two
seamstresses and became incorporated
in 1982 as Meiling Inc. The company
has also founded a successful corporate
uniform division, which outfits
employees throughout the Caribbean.
Meiling’s designs were showcased
at Caribbean Essence in London and
Berlin. While in London, an investment
opportunity arose with a firm in Europe
and Africa, which led to trading with
buyers in Germany and the UK.
The Berlin showcase also proved to be
extremely successful, as the company
was able to secure an order for just
over €2000 from a European boutique.
Meiling established contacts with
European designers, manufacturers,
and distributors, in addition to
and international designers and
manufacturers. The company expects
increased exports to the EU and profits,
given the positive response to her
designs and the value of the contacts
established. There are also anticipated
joint venture, and new market
opportunities
.
SONIA NOEL DESIGNS – GUYANA
Sonia Noel is one of Guyana’s
leading designers and over the last 16
years, has become one of the most
recognizable names in the Caribbean
fashion industry. In 2012, Sonia Noel
participated in Caribbean Export’s
staging of Caribbean Essence at London
Engage and closed out the showcase.
Participation in both events led to the
establishment of two significant contacts
in the United Kingdom: David Roberts,
Founder of CaribDirect, a multicultural
blog that features a variety of news,
lifestyle and entertainment pieces from
across the Caribbean and its Diaspora;
and Sherry-Ann Dixon, a Marketing and
Public Relations Consultant.
Both of these connections have led to
the creation of collaborative business
opportunities including the launch of
Makin’ Styles, a Caribbean Lifestyle
magazine across the Caribbean, New
York, London and Toronto; in addition
to Noel’s participation in the French-
Guiana Fashion Week. There has also
been an increase in clientele for her
brand Mariska’s Designs following the
London Engage event, the majority of
which is from the diaspora in the UK.
Caribbean Export and EPA Implementation in the Caribbean Services Sector
BENEFICIARY SUCCESSES USING THE EPA