SAINT LUCIA HOT Couture Thursday night unveiled an international cast of designers and a few exciting innovations for this years event.
Thirteen designers out of North America, Europe, Africa and the Caribbean will command the HOT Couture stage under the theme “Masterpiece”. The event, which has become a major highlight of the Saint Lucia Jazz & Arts Festival and a magnet for Caribbean fashion savants, will be staged on May 4 at the Sandals Grande ballroom and is being produced by Cinnamon Productions.
Cinnamon Productions CEO, JoycieMederick disclosed that consistent with the theme, the names of the featured designers have become synonymous with outstanding artistry, skill and workmanship. They comprise Romero Bryan from the United Kingdom, Ecliff Ellie of Trinidad & Tobago, Kimon from St. Vincent & The Grenadines, EbkaKagbala of Nigeria, Shamain Anatole from Saint Lucia, Luis Machicao of Peru, Kim Charlery of Saint Lucia, Nefatari of Barbados, Saint Lucia/ US designer Miriam Belasse and Claricia Gill from Saint Lucia and based in the UK.
The early announcement of the presence of stylist to the stars and American television and fashion celebrity Dwight Eubanks came in for much applause from the attending patrons from the fashion sector. Eubanks will distinguish the event as head of the styling and make up team as well as a featured designer. He will show an all-male clothing line.
The Design District at Serenity Park on May 5 is a first for HOT Couture. It will also feature additional lines from RI Swimwear by Victor Lascaris and Christine Samuels of Saint Lucia.
This year, HOT Couture will stage two shows, each with different design lines, the first from 7:00 p.m. and the second from 9:30 p.m..
Another huge reveal for HOT Couture 2016 is that through its connections with the North American fashion industry, Cinnamon Productions has negotiated a once in a lifetime opportunity for this year’s most outstanding model to be featured on the cover of the summer edition of Fashion Avenue Magazine.
“It takes effort, dedication, passion, love and astute business acumen to succeed in this fluid and dynamic industry. That applies to designers, stylists and models. Cinnamon Productions is intent on ensuring that there is legacy value from the staging of the anniversary edition of HOT Couture,” Mederick said.
Director of the Saint Lucia Tourist Board, Louis Lewis, expressed pleasure at what he called “some novelty aspects which are consistent with the innovation that has characterized the Festivalls’ twenty-five year journey.”
“The opportunities for exposure and the Design District which will no doubt heighten the festival experience and make the fashion component more accessible to Saint Lucians, and by bringing established names who have access to their own media network, Cinnamon Productions is helping us deliver on some key objectives of the Festival,” the director concluded.