TRINIDADIAN fashion designer Meiling Essau unveiled her 2012 women’s resort wear at Caribbean Fashionweek last Saturday, at the National Indoor Sports Centre in St Andrew.

The designs consist of neutral colours, mostly whites and off-whites, simple details she says are suitable for the Caribbean.

“Less is more is definitely my mantra. My clothes look deceptively simple but are created with innovative cuts and infused with subtle details such as faggoting and drawn thread,” she told the Jamaica Observer.

“Dressing is about a sense of occasion.”

Meiling also addressed the state of regional haute couture, saying an event like Caribbean Fashionweek is a “project in progress” which improves annually.

She said although the Trinidad and Tobago and Barbados fashion weeks have been put on hold, there are still enough shows to highlight Caribbean fashion.

“Other than Trinidad, I showcase my line in the region or wherever else in the world I am invited to,” she said.

Now in the fashion business for over 40 years, Meiling starting her career in the late 60s and as a teen studied at the Lucie Clayton School of Design in London.

She has designed pieces for Trinidad Carnival and the Absolut brand out of Sweden.

For her contribution to regional fashion, she was presented with the CFW Master Award in 2008. She also won Designer of The Year at the Jamaica Observer Style Award in 2005.

Meiling’s designs are available locally at Soho Boutique in Kingston and Round Hill in Montego Bay.