Herself travelled south two weekends ago to witness Masquerade: An Industry Gala For Fashion & Design, hosted by Creative TT, Trinidad & Tobago Creative Industries Company Limited. The bigger story was that Vogue Italia would be on the island scouting locations and looking at Trini designers to be featured in the May issue. Naturally, fingers and toes are crossed for our Caribbean sister isle as this could be the fashion breakthrough the region has long desired. In true regional style, however, there was Maco… lots of it! Indeed, 24 hours after the lusty applause that resonated from Under The Trees of the Normandie Hotel, St Ann’s, Port-of-Spain fashion insiders (of which there’s a veritable roll call) as well as designers — the most vocal being Robert Young – declared their disappointment at the apparent secrecy of the event. “The secrecy surrounding Masquerade,” said Young to the Guardian newspaper, “has caused friction among designers, with a handful being chosen for the honour of participating and compelled to not talk about it with their colleagues.” FYI: not everyone made the guest list!

The man behind the visit of Vogue Italia, Calvin French, who lived in Milan for over two decades, sees the magazine’s visit as timely and positive. “They are here seeing first-hand,” he tells SO, “what we are about and naturally, we are optimistic.” He’s not the only one. The Republic’s PM Kamla Persad-Bissessar, speaking at the show, declared the future of fashion bright. “Today the fashion industry employs more than 11,000 persons, either directly or indirectly, and generates in excess of TT$25 million annually (US$4 million)… Our nation’s capital, Port-of-Spain is being positioned as a fashion district and the fashion capital of the Caribbean with a thriving retail district in the region, which spans numerous locations between Frederick and Charlotte Streets. Having local work featured in the 2014 spring/summer issue of Vogue Italia this May would present an excellent platform.”

The Vogue nod has to date been given to Meiling Esau and Claudia Pegus, as well as the PM, who was styled by design house CLD and photographed in residence for the magazine. Like everyone else, we can hardly wait to get our hands on the spring issue. In the interim we’re brushing up on our Italian, of course, as we contemplate the possibilities. We’re also wondering when the players in our own fashion industry will put egos in check and change the fashion narrative finally putting country first.

SIDE BAR

The reception…

The elements came together stylishly: great location, stilt walkers, delicious fare, premium bar, elegant guests, politicos from both sides of the House, and naturally, the requisite dose of jostling for the cameras.

The show…

The national anthem was delivered on the national instrument of Trinidad and Tobago: the steel pan.

The formalities…

Were handled with aplomb. Fashion insider and stylist Peter Elias guided the PM down the runway.

The Show

The designers: Christian Boucad, Claudia Pegus, CLD, Heather Jones, James Hackett, J Madison, Meiling, Noor, Peter Elias and Rhion Romany presented capsule collections that served to show retail and design capabilities.

SO’s flight to Trinidad to cover Masquerade was made possible by Caribbean Airlines.

Special thanks to Alicia Cabrera, executive marketing manager CAL and

CAL pursers Bernadette Raphael Clarke and Ms Allison Hercules