Saint model Mellissa Govay of Saint International's Fashion Face of the Caribbean and Avant-Garde Designer of the Year Show, held at Jamaica Pegasus Hotel, New Kingston last Sunday. - Winston Sill/Freelance Photographer
Avant-garde: using or
favouring an ultra modern style; new; innovative.
The Oxford Dictionary
CONTRARY TO the meaning of avant-garde Dexter Pottinger's winning design in the avant-garde designer of the year contest on Sunday was a brown and gold leather skin-tight dress with uneven hemline attached to a wire frame which harkened back to the '60s.
It brought the audience back to a time when women utilised artificial means, such as the corset or the wire, to create the illusion of a 'perfect', hourglass figure.
OBSESSION WITH
BODY IMAGE
While it might be difficult
to imagine why this is avant-garde, given society's continued obsession with body image and given that this is fashion the '60s is also today.
The corset, replaced in some instances by diet and exercise, was not needed in this instance by the Saint model who wore the dress. She was tall and thin and as Deiwight Peters, the agency's CEO would say. "That's how we like them at Saint."
Dexter's design was also 'new' in another way. It reflects the emphasis on skin, the dress, if you call it that, is strapless and tight at the bodice, but flared from the hip, at which point the frame begins. Much of the model's long legs could be seen, as the dress did not cover the frame. Much of his collection on Sunday showed variations of this theme, high class, old world charm and sophistication with more than a hint of drama.
For the winning design Pottinger won $75,000, plus the requisite trophy courtesy of Appelton. No one in the audience seemed surprised at the win.
Also vying for the right to be considered avant-garde were, a black jacket which could have been from the rejected wardrobe of the Matrix trilogy by Les Campbell; A river goddess costume made from all natural fabrics and a few pieces of wood by RDH; a red bikini with matching silver and red train by Shemdeeke, and the uninspired, 'costume' made from the flag of Jamaica by Ray Lindo.
Other avant-garde presentations came from newcomer Yolande Bennette, Chris Pablo, Yola Grey, Minka, Neah Lis, and Carlton Brown.
While Dexter was winning the designer competition, 26 young men and 25 young women were also eagerly awaiting the outcome of the Fashion Face of the Caribbean 2005 competition. At the end of the presentations by the models, 16-year-old Sosheba Griffith emerged the winner in the female category. Sigail Currie, 17 placed second and Ruchelle McKay placed third.
Rual Meeks, 22, earned first place in the male category, Robin Salm, 24, placed second and 16 year old Kemar French placed third. They each won development contracts from Saint International.
The audience that came out to the ballroom of the Jamaica Pegasus Hotel for the competitions was not left out of the theatrics of the event. As Saint events go, drama and excitement are part and parcel of the experience.
