Kingsley Cooper eyes CFW's big 10!

Barbara Ellington, Lifestyle Editor

The name Kingsley Cooper is synonymous with Jamaica's modelIing/beauty/fashion industries. A lawyer by profession, he took the bold step to provide something that was missing from the menu of entertainment offerings, starting with those fondly remembered concerts back in the '80s. And, who has not attended one of his legendary Christmas parties at Villa Ronai? Those are among the most sought-after seasonal invitations.

That aside, the astute businessman continues to exhibit a dynamic approach to business that characterises those who stay the course through thick and thin. For that reason, he recently added Irie Jam's Legend Award to a trophy cabinet that includes the Order of Distinction (Commander Class). Many of the island's previously underprivileged young girls owe him a debt of gratitude for opening up the world of high fashion and glamour to them.

As Caribbean FashionWeek's (CFW), 10th anniversary looms, The Gleaner's Lifestyle Editor Barbara Ellington, spoke to the Pulse chief executive officer about his plans for the week and the future.

BE: WHEN YOU formed Pulse, did you envision that the modelling industry in Jamaica would have grown so much in 10 years?

KC: It's actually 31 years since we started Pulse and an international modelling industry for the Caribbean.Caribbean FashionWeek, however, is 10 years old this year. We knew the potential of our Jamaican and Caribbean talent, but we had no idea how successful the modelling industry would be in actuality. We are happy with what has been accomplished, not just with the models, but with the various agencies and related industry players who have sprung up all over the region. We look forward to the day when our region produces the world's number one model, difficult though that may be, given the issues of race that are very much a part of the international modelling industry.

We have already produced top 20 models, including the world's number model of colour in Jaunel McKenzie. Now it's on to the next milestone.

What has been the most exciting event along the journey so far; and the most disappointing?

There have been many exciting and disappointing events in our 31-year journey. Numbered among our most exciting are:

• Lois Samuels on the cover of Vogue
  
• CFW highly rated by British Vogue
  
• Nadine Willis' success as the fastest rising supermodel in history.
  
• Jaunel McKenzie attaining the status of the world's number one model of colour.
  
• Kimberley Mais' breakthrough with Kirin beer in Tokyo
  
• Althea Laing's breakthrough as our first international cover - Essence
  
• The Commodores amazing concert in Kingston, when they were the number one band in the world.
  
• Peter Tosh's last concert at Superjam, a breathtaking performance.
  
• Lisa Hanna becoming Miss World.
  
• Jeneil Williams and Sedene Blake becoming the most successful new stars at this season's fashion collections.Numbered among our most disappointing are:
  
• Lionel Ritchie not making the Commodores concert in 1981.
  
• Nadine Willis not going on to become the number one model in the world, which she had the potential to do. The failure of Superjam in 1984 when Dennis Brown was a no-show and Black Uhuru split days before the event.
  
• The continuing inability of governments over these many years to truly recognise the creative potential of our people and their unwillingness to develop our creative industries by providing the enabling environment necessary for success, given the comparative advantage we enjoy in this arena. For a while, we have been seeing signs of change. Hopefully, these will concretise into a meaningful way forward.

BE: In the early days, you staged musical events very successfully, will you do that again in the future?

KC: Major concerts are unlikely to be staged by Pulse under the remainder of my tenure as chief executive officer. They might happen again, when the next generation takes over, although I will continue to guide the company as chairman. As Benny Ashbourne, the then manager of the Commodores told me many years ago, with major concerts, there are too many things that can go wrong. However, we do present major acts as part of other events - such as the stars who appear at CFW every year.

BE: What does receiving the ` Award recently mean to you?KC: My Legend award presented recently in New York, means a lot to me, because the honour was bestowed by my own Caribbean people who appreciate the work I have done over these many years. Looking on from the more objective perspective of the international arena, they were of the view that I was deserving. That's good, because it gives meaningful balance to the negativity we face, only too often, as we go about our daily business.

BE: CFW is coming up soon; what will you be doing differently this year?KC: Apart from the Haiti Art and Fashion Benefit night, which is important, we are not doing anything different. Just bigger, better and more of the best of the years.

BE: Where do you see Pulse and CFW in the next 20 years and how much of a challenge was it to get the other islands' buy-in?

KC: We have amazing hopes. If it's God's will, with hard work and a continuing vision, we will become globally recognised brands. It wasn't much of a challenge to get the rest of the region to buy into CFW and Caribbean Model Search (CMS). From inception, CFW was pitched as a regional initiative and we had Trinidad, St Lucia, Barbados, Guyana and other countries participating. I guess they understood what we wanted to do and were ready.

BE: So many groups and organisations jumped in to help Haiti after the earthquake, why did you get on board too?

KC: Our objective is somewhat different. Our project was not about immediate relief, important though that was. It is about medium-term reconstruction of that country's creative industries. Art, music, craft and fashion are very important to the daily economic lives of Haitians. We wanted to help. We also believe that this is consistent with our role as Caribbean neighbours and our responsibility to take the lead, with the blessing of the Haitian people and CARICOM, which we received. I also acted as chairman of the Caribbean Fashion Industry Association (CAFIA), with members in Haiti. CAFIA wanted to assist.

I also believe that in helping Haiti, we will also help the English-speaking Caribbean to further develop in this regard, given the natural synergies that will occur.

BE: How are your long-term plans for Villa Ronai coming along?

KC:Very well. We now have our first key restaurant operator. The first phase consisting of restaurants, spa, lounge, boutique, gift shop, fitness centre, etc., should be fully tenanted and operational by year end. The destination spa and suites, scheduled for the final phase, are already half done and should be complete in two to three years.

BE: Looking back on your life, is there anything that you would do differently?

KC:Not really. I have made many mistakes, mostly minor. The larger errors have taught me invaluable lessons and provided the kind of experiences we all need, if we are to succeed.

barbara.ellington@gleanerjm.com