Yolande Gyles, Freelance Writer
( left ) A design from Cedella Marley's Catch A Fire Collection. Cedella earned a standing ovation for the 'Sixty and Still Smokin' collection in tribute to her father's 60th birthday.
( right ) A design from Claudia Pegus' collection, shown at Caribbean Fashionweek 2005. - PHOTOS BY WINSTON SILL/FREELANCE PHOTOGRAPHER
CLAUDIA PEGUS' designs for women, Bill Edwards' elegant stylings for men, The Cloth's take on Caribbean fashion and, of course, Cedella Marley's 'Catch A Fire' line, were the perfect ending to Pulse's Caribbean Fashionweek 2005 at the National Indoor Sports Centre, Arthur Wint Drive.
Of the four shows on Sunday's final night of the fifth annual staging of CFW, the aforementioned collections were clearly several cuts, stitches and designs above the rest.
First-time designer at CFW, Caron Crawford, showed that she had the makings of a future fashion heavyweight.
Crawford's bridal line was clearly for the bride who did not mind being different. She showed
off-white, white on white, blush pink and even African inspired bridal wear which made a statement.
But it was the collections of Pegus, Edwards, Marley and The Cloth which shouted.
THE HEAVY GUNS
Pegus brought out the heavy guns with a collection that screamed couture. The Trinidadian designer used an exciting mix of silk and hemp to show her vision of elegantly sexy. And the fashion crowd seemed more than pleased, because when she took the stage, she received one of two standing ovations for that night.
And what Pegus did for women, Bill Edwards matched in a handsome men's collection. Showing that a stylish man does not look unkempt, he used different - sometimes off-beat - fabrics to create a men's look which oozed class. As has become his hallmark, his stitching and finishes were on point and gorgeous.
The Cloth, another line out of Trinidad, showed that simple could be beautiful. Using cotton as the clothing line's main anchor, designer Robert Young allowed bustling blues and eye-grabbing greens, along with a whole host of colours, to show a different way of Caribbean dressing.
TYPICAL URBAN FUNK
But the night belonged to Catch A Fire. With a large contingent from the Marley clan, which included mother Rita and sisters Sharon and Stephanie in the front row, Cedella brought out her typical urban funk, heavily influenced by her father Bob Marley, and kicked it up several notches. With mixed media printed skirts and dresses, hot shorts and sexy mini skirts, just to name a few, the line showed an in your face sexiness which was clearly designed for the woman who wants to be seen. So well received were the clothes that Marley received the night's second standing ovation.
The only major hitch on a night which saw stunning designs was the late start for every show. However, great clothing can overcome any hurdle.
Other designers on show were CFW staples Barry Moncrieffe, Nefertari Caddle and Pauline Bellamy. First-timers Gavin Douglas and Stephanie Scott for Right on Apparel also showed interesting collections.
Cedella brought out her typical urban funk, heavily
influenced by her father Bob Marley, and kicked it up several notches. With mixed media printed skirts and dresses, hot shorts and sexy mini skirts.
