(PHOTOS: TIFFANY LUE-YEN)

Bajan designer Carla ‘Carlori’ Gittens was for many a definite shoe-in for the Mission Catwalk: All Stars design competition. The 29-year-old who made it to second place in season four, is a self-taught fashion designer who started her career in 2009 while pursuing her BSc, in Marketing and Management at UWI, Mona. Gittens designs ready-to-wear fashion, which can be best described as chic and classy with a hint of risqué. The multi-talented designer believes that she must constantly hone her skills because there is always someone out there who is better than her. Her 2015 goal for her ‘ByCarlori’ brand is to ensure all her designs are #OnFleek.

THE CHALLENGE:

The designers were asked to create a print inspired by the Campari Munari bag and by extension a spectacular garment.

GITTENS’ DESIGN BRIEF:

I was inspired by the Campari’s “Call Me” ad campaign, which involved a bottle of Campari and a napkin with a red kiss and a note saying “Call me” on a bar counter. The inspiration also stemmed from Campari’s appreciation of art and an article that focused on “the art of Campari”. Those two inspirations contributed to the monogram print of red kisses and “call me” on the sleeves and an original portrait illustration of a lady wearing red roses around her neck at the front of the fitted sweatshirt. The overall look was also inspired by Italian street style. The fitted sweatshirt with long sleeves and a high neck was created using a lightweight fabric called Ponte di Roma. The skirt, made from deep blue stretch denim was flared and floor length.

I was relieved that I finally won an episode!

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Mission Catwalk: All Stars Episode 6 winner was Carla Gittens of Barbados.

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Gittens’ winning design was modelled by Lisa Escalona.

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Gittens explains her design to the judges.

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Eliminated at the end of the episode was Rebecca Stirm of Belize.