Guyana Fashion Weekend 2K8 moves from lukewarm opening to fashion inferno

Oct 12, 2008 News

---

By Alex Wayne

Well, the Guyana Fashion Weekend 2K8 has concluded, and there are mixed reviews all around.
While the majority of persons have deemed the show ‘successful and spectacular,’ some have dubbed the opening night of the show ‘lukewarm.’
This year around, the creativity of Artistic Director Richard Younge of Trinidad was evident in the rich, somewhat tropical décor created from bamboo.
His creativity was also seen in showcasing Mario Amres’s Inner Power and Rhythm Nation Band, which ignited the strange and somewhat mesmerizing atmosphere that was felt by the audience and models.
Over the three nights, models spilled onto the two-dimensional catwalk in designs of every nature, but the expected sizzle was somewhat missing on the first night.
Maybe it was the organizers’ idea to begin with a subtle simmer and then take the programme to a screeching crescendo of fashion flames in the two final nights.
No one knows for sure, but on the conclusion of the show, the GFW committee was well applauded for its efforts.
Notable were the opening acts from a local karate group, which depicted classical techniques of combat, self defence and extreme flexibility.
As their moves excited the applauding audience, there were complementary murmurs applauding the organizers’ decision to inculcate in the programme other aspects of the arts and culture.
Local and foreign fashion pieces for the event ranged from subtle to sexy, chic to classy, demure to sultry, and downright daring and provocative.
Swimsuits took on a different fashion statement, affirming the fact that a fusion of rich ideas and creative minds can take fashion to the peak.
Evening gowns and cocktail dresses took on a different glow, making it seem at times that an almost bizarre twist of fashion ideas were interwoven into the rich fabrics.
The opening night was dubbed ‘average’ by Younge, while the two final nights were billed ‘ecstatic.’
The fact that North American designers were included on the platter spoke volumes for the magnitude of the event, since such designers hardly participate in countries such as Guyana, according to Younge.
GFW Chief Executive Officer Sonia Noel, in a brief comment, described the event as successful. She added that she was particularly pleased with the ‘smooth running of things.’
Noel noted that hosting three nights of fashion was indeed a challenge, adding that she is more than pleased that it ended on a positive note.
She lauded the designers and models for working beyond expectations, making special mention of the line by the Human Services Department which carried positive messages on the issue of domestic violence.
Guyana Fashion Weekend 2K8 featured a lineup of fabulous local designs which reeked of creativity and classic fashion, indicating strongly that Guyanese designers are definitely standing their ground in the elite world of glamour.
Sanola Forte shone again with her ‘Bumble Bee’ collection which featured classy, skimpy dresses and alluring gowns.
Andrew Harris, as expected, lived up to his word and displayed a male line so smashing that some patrons did not hesitate to rush backstage after the show to make orders.
His line featured immaculate shirts, pant-suits and other pieces done in remarkable earth tones that did wonders for his line up of ‘well selected’ male models that wore them.
Keeping to his word of planning a ‘fashion surprise’, Carlos ‘Lucky B’ Williams displayed a stunning ‘Stush’ male line that evoked exclamations of approval from the gathering.
The pieces, which featured ashen gray shades fading into white fabric, depicted short pants suits , hooded pieces, and  a few evening pieces that could be worn to garden and open air dinners.
Rich and creative were the pieces from Maxi Williams, whose line featured dazzling dresses, fabulous gents wear and an exciting ‘ethnic fusion’ costume line that reminded the audience of Guyana’s beautiful indigenous tribes.
Queen of fashion, Sonia Noel, dazzled yet again with her mind boggling female line of gowns, dresses and swimsuits that left the audience marvelling at her talent.
To top things off, she added two ‘almost transparent’ skimpy male trunks to her collection that had the audience mesmerized when the models came on stage.
The Aspara Collection was indeed a colourful and dazzling line of intense creativity and high class Indian fashion that is rapidly becoming a vibrant feature on the runways.
Olympia Small-Sonoram soared to the skies with creativity, bringing to the catwalk her magnificent and sexy ‘Reflections’, male and female line.
Skimpy male and female swimsuits fitted with mirrors, sent almost ‘lightening like flashes’ through the audience as models strutted the pieces onstage.
Her line brought to life the ‘Saturday Night Fever’ characters of yesteryear even as it transformed models into ‘twilight fairies’ and sexy divas of the runway.
The foreign delegation saw stimulating pieces coming from Donna Dove of Trinidad and the ‘De Cloth’ collection which featured dazzling male pieces of almost every imaginable nature.
Paula Evans and Kesha Edwards represented magnificently as well as Shedel Burch Smith, and Trinidadian designer Rodney Alexander, whose rich, elaborate pieces in striking earth tones and marble shades were ‘fashion knockouts’.
Guyana Fashion Weekend 2K8 ended on a high note, affirming the message that fashion is definitely on the rise on the local shores.

---

---