Williams wins Fashionblock award

Garfene Grandison, Gleaner Writer

Sunday night, new Kingston came alive as Saint International took over the Knutsford Boulevard strip for Fashionblock 2011.

The night belonged toHOD's Gregory Williams, who was named Avant Garde designer of the year, an event which was held for the second time this year, with Ashley Martin earning the top prize then.

The clear crowd favourite, Williams designed an ensemble that was inspired by the idea of a bird in captivity.

The piece, titled 'Birdrageous', was made from chicken meshed wire with a cage attached to the end of the dress, housing birds.

The title, Avant Garde designer of the year also came with a cash prize of $30,000 courtesy of Saint International.

Despite being postponed for two weeks because of torrential rainfall, Saint International's staging of Fashionblock was an event that brought out the designers, industry professionals and fashion lovers from across the island.

Generally, the 150-foot catwalk brought out a massive turnout to the streets to witness the models showcasing the designs of more than 12 upcoming, as well as established designers.

Turnout

However, the turnout was not as strong this year as it has been in the past, the postponement possibly having an impact.

The event started at 9 p.m. with Jerry D the vibesmaster at the helm of the proceedings, interacting with the audience and getting them to react, prepping them for what was to be a stellar showcase.

Starting off the show was Saint International model-turned-fashion designer Kaydian Nicely, backed by the Glenmuir High School Choir.

Once again, HOD designers showcased their creativity, this time under the Soldanza collection banner.

Sonya Foote's swimwear line had an interesting mix of colours that popped on the runway.

Later, cheers would erupt when Balashawn started off his showcase with Beyonce's Girls (who run the world) and four shirtless male models walking out with tiki torches in hand.

Although the designs were trendy, ranging from unconventional suits, to shorts, to harem pants and more, they were not in keeping with the summer season. "Too much hot velvet," one patron was heard saying to another while other persons had bewildered facial expressions.

Mission Catwalk contestant Franchester Christie made his debut on the Saint International catwalk and had one of the best showcases for the night. His collection showed versatility, as it transitioned from neutral and earthy colours to bright, loud hues with bold patterns.

The designer belied his youth with the finesse and flair which were characteristics of his showing. His attention to detail also showed maturity.

Performances

Timberlee was the night's first performer, and although she looked quite stylish onstage, her performance fell flat. There was almost no response from the audience.

Her first hit Bubble Like Soup produced the strongest crowd response, but not even that could help.

Rick B's and Neahlis also had two good collections for the night that were well received.Rick's colour palette of red, black and white were consistent throughout his entire collection, while Neahlis had flowing summer dresses in bold colours and intricate designs with bold headpieces to match.

The final collection for the night came from international designer Indashio. The collection was worth waiting for.

Both male and female pieces added colour to the 150-foot runway. Each stylish piece represented a part of Indashio's eclectic personality.

Saint International had another successful staging, but it was a bittersweet night for many of the patrons. Many were upset at the interruptions during the show.

"We came here to see fashion, not antics," one patron said, while another in close proximity noted, "This is painful."

The show did have too many long pauses that took away from the excitement. A number of the models also manoeuvred the catwalk quite poorly, unlike Sheena Moulton who made the 150 feet hers.