Caribbean Fashion week rocks New York
New York’s fashion elite came out in their numbers for the launch of Caribbean Fashion Week 2001, an event that broke the daze the industry has been in since that city’s own Fashion Week came to a halt with the September11 disaster.
Hundreds of celebrities, supermodels and media personalities packed Manhattan’s Eastside Bambou restaurant to overflow what must go down as one of the Caribbean’s most glamorous social events ever held in New York City.
An international who’s who of the Caribbean and American style munched on hors dourves and sipped cocktails at the launch which was addressed by Jamaica’s Consul General to the city, Dr Basil Bryan and Kingsley Cooper, Executive Chairman of Pulse, organisers of the event. Mary Duncan extended greetings from JAMPRO, a major event sponsor, Tony King spoke on behalf of the Jamaica Tourist Board. Other major sponsors including Air Jamaica, the event’s official air carrier was represented by Cindy Cain at the launch. All expressed their pleasure to be sponsors of the event and wished Fashionweek, scheduled for Nov 7-11, well.
Cooper outlined the philosophy behind Fashion week and noted that it would not only become a catalyst for the development of the Caribbean Fashion Industry but it would bring the region together creatively. Also, it would bring the world to the Caribbean to do business as well as enjoy an event which will surely become the symbol of Caribbean style. A number of top Caribbean designers based in New York, who will show at Fashionweek were in attendance. These included Jamaica’s Courtney Washington, Michael Gillings, Doreen Curjeiris and Tori John representing Cedella Marley’s Catch A Fire Line, Guyanese Roger Gary and Haitian Clarke Payau.
The long list of celebrities, super models and personalities in attendance included: Renato Cavero of Thierry Mugler; April T and TJ Eaton of Ford Models; Toni Thai, The Agency; Audrey Smaltz, NY Fashion Week producer; John Hunts, Pulse Barbados; Asio Highsmith, actor and star of the new Zoolander Movie, Sex and the City and Law and Order; Christine Ferriera of Q Models; David Delacruz, stylist; FUMI De Sala, Nigerian international model; Jodi Elliston and Simone Barrette from DKNY; Leon, movie star; Michel Mitchell, former Motown Vice-President and partner, Compulsion Entertainment; Professors Susan Simmons and Gloria C Hartley of NY’c Fashion Institute of Technology, Richard Elms, Tommy Hilfiger model of NY Models; Rodney Charles movie actor and model of Ford Models; Safa Seivwright of SE TV; Sonia Alleyne of Black Enterprise; Tamika Blair of BMG and Tyrone Barrington, model agent of Karin Models.
International Fashion and Lifestyle Media was represented by Alev Aktar and Jean Michel, Daily News; Ava Paris and Johnny Nunez, Vibe Magazine; Bridgette Smith, WLIB; Dave Rodney, Link Up Media; Debbie Goodison, Daily News/Dateline NBC; Debra Lewis and Donna McCoytl, People Magazine; Donnette Dunbar and Lois Barrett, Financial Times; Frankie, NY Post; Juline Douglas , Financial Times.Com; Ken Williams, Carib NY; Malike Lee Whitney, Oceana Magazine; Natalie Huey, Uniworld Group; Pat Mckay, Sirus Satellite Radio; Roland Brammer, Associate Editor for N.A. Gleaner; Stefan Cassius, Metro TV and Walter Greene.
Pulse international models in attendance were Angela Neil, Carla Campbell, Juline Samuels, Lincoln Wynter, Nikki Vassell, Parisa Fitz-Henley, Reshima Hemmings, Melissa Henry, Alethea Barton and Tessa Henry.#
