By Al Edwards, Business Co-ordinatorCARIBBEAN FASHIONWEEK, which began in 2001 has garnered worldwide attention and its financial viability is being recognised, so much so that JAMPRO views the event as an important trade expo in Jamaica's trading calendar.
Buoyed by its success, the event's main organiser and chairman of Jamaican modelling agency Pulse, Kingsley Cooper went on a tour of Europe at the end of last month to sell Caribbean Fashionweek and to encourage European designers to participate in the region's leading fashion showcase.
Speaking to The Financial Gleaner yesterday, Mr. Cooper said "We are now attempting to broaden the appeal of Caribbean Fashionweek and so we are looking to exhibit the works of designers from Central America and both the French and Spanish Caribbean. Last year it cost J$30 million to put on Caribbean Fashionweek, this year that figure will go up by at least 50 per cent."
Mr. Cooper added that the fashion industry in the Caribbean brings in no less than US$500 million via production and that as an industry it tends to be underlooked.
The Toronto based Fashion Television turned the spotlight on last year's Caribbean Fashionweek and beamed it by satellite to viewers in more than 100 countries. In its broadcast, the network chose to highlight and recognise the Caribbean's efforts at developing an international fashion industry. The Fashion TV report is the latest in a wave of very positive international press that the event has generated. The New York Daily News, The BBC, Sister to Sister, WWD, The Fashion Report, Fashion Wire Daily and in the Caribbean, Skywritings, She, and the new Schabeau magazine out of Barbados have all reported on this fashion extravaganza.
Fashion Television said "Fashion is an integral part of the global economy. Behind brand names like Calvin Klein lies a work force that allows thousands to earn their livelihood. Because of the economic benefits many countries without established industries are now rushing to create them as we witnessed recently in Jamaica at the second annual Caribbean Fashionweek".
Fashion TV went on to point out that "not only can a fashion industry provide employment for thousands of workers but the islands have a built in clientele with money to burn. Over 10 million tourists visit the Caribbean every year and many not only want to leave with a suntan but with an outfit to go with it."
Executive Producer of the event Kingsley Cooper, speaking to Fashion Television, said: "Billions of hard currency dollars are spent in the region on clothing, just not on Caribbean made clothing. So that's the whole objective, to move from where we are to where we can be."
The FTV feature went on to give some insight into why the world was so interested in Caribbean Fashionweek which has achieved significant international recognition in only two years. It said "Although the Caribbean designers lack the multi-million dollar budgets of their counterparts in Milan or Paris, presentations like Caribbean Fashionweek offer a refreshing change. While you do not get to see the most expensive clothing in the world its hard not to notice the local character of the clothes and the models."
