Caribbean Fashionweek pushed back a week

Garfene Grandison, Gleaner Writer

Once described by British Vogue as an important event in the world of fashion, Caribbean Fashionweek (CFW), in its 10th staging, will now be held from June 15-21, a week later than the originally scheduled June 8-14 advertised.

The reason, according to Kingsley Cooper, Pulse chairman, has to do with the unrest in west Kingston over a week ago.

"[It] is really due to the need to give the mass of international CFW participants and guests a chance to regain their calm as well as their willingness to come to Kingston where the event is being held," said Cooper.

In a correspondence to The Gleaner, Cooper further expressed, "News reports from Kingston regarding violence have spooked many overseas participants. Pulse has been fielding hundreds of emails and phone calls expressing alarm and concern from many designers, stylists, celebs, performers, media personnel, industry experts and insiders, as well as the wider group of fashionistas scheduled to attend the region's biggest and most important style event."

However, CFW has retained R&B superstar Johnny Gill as the headline act for the weeklong event. Other entertainers and celebrities have also confirmed and those names will be announced shortly, according to Pulse's release.

Networking forums

Apart from the glitz and glamour of the fashion shows and after-parties, CFW includes the CFW Business Forum, the Caribbean Fashion Industry Association AGM, and an exhibition featuring designer booths where buyers and designers can be matched.

"The event," boasted Cooper, "also provides a forum for networking and an exchange of ideas by the region's best designers, their international counterparts, supermodels and other industry members."

This year, a new venture will be included called the Haiti Art & Fashion Project.

Over the next five years, a united Caribbean effort under this umbrella will help to reconstruct Haiti's creative industries.

To help that effort, $1,000 from each ticket sold on Friday, June 18 at CFW will go to the foundation responsible for the implementation of the CARICOM-endorsed project.

grandison.garfene@gleanerjm.com