Handcrafted

Texture, tone, workmanship and handcrafted detail emerged as key trends from standout designers at the just-wrapped Caribbean Fashionweek (CFW). In true Caribbean fashion the collections featured myriad styles and techniques, ranging sharp tailoring, vivid prints, conservative feminism, and funky Carib-urban pop. In a fashion world that sees new collections every few weeks, and a rising horde of budding fashionistas chronicling their #OOTD, making a collection or look one’s own is the name of the fashion game the world over and at CFW designers seemed to steer their collections toward fresh originality.

Sandra Kennedy softened, sharp, clean lines with hand-tied bows. Mara Made’s hand-carved jewellery added warmth and depth to solid colour blocking from drennaLUNA. Meiling showed a breezy and clean all-white, linen & cotton collection, filled with girly joie de vivre and accentuated with her signature battenburg lace detail. Alyssa Simone softened her Lola box clutches’ geometrical lines with hand-painting, and funky-fied with crochet decal inspired lego mosaics and dancehall inspired rhinestone finishing. Jacki Cohen’s Mutamba collection was a melange of motherland chic, with handcrafted accessories that ranged from leather and calabash gourd purses to bespoke woven cuffs and baskets. Donnette Cooper’s Jafrican Design showed tribal woven clutches and purses paired with simple-chic batik sarongs. CFW is no stranger to sexy swimwear, and Miakalani’s high-cut one-pieces stood out for their vivid tones held together with hand-tied bows and lacing. And, in spite of the everything-but-the-kitchen-sink approach to the styling, Nicki Wright’s quirky lace and leather concoctions stood out as possibly the freshest hit of the weekend: frantic and funky, the collection is fit for any brash bubbling dancehall queen.

AW Fashion serves up the best of Caribbean styling.