US-based Guyanese designer accuses govt. of stealing fashion concept

Apr 12, 2025 News

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…Min. Walrond refutes allegations, says concept was locally developed

Kaieteur News-  United States based Guyanese fashion designer Marrisa Wilson has accused the Government of Guyana of using her intellectual property without consent for its upcoming Origins: Guyana Fashion Festival.

The designer made the allegation in a recent Instagram post. “I’m going to share with you all something that is deeply upsetting surrounding my work…. three years ago, I pitched a proposal to the Guyanese Minister of Tourism, Oneidge Walrond, a fashion runway show to celebrate Guyanese culture, grow the local fashion industry, and bring tourism to the country,” Wilson wrote.

The designer said after weeks of engagement and a formal proposal submitted to the festival’s event director, she received no further communication, only to later see her ideas and likeness used in the government’s project.

She explained that the organising director reached out to her team, informing them that they would like to take them on as the creative and production team and support with educational efforts.

“Over several weeks, we shared ideas, brand materials-including videos and images of my work. As a follow up, he asked for a full proposal. We delivered. Then we never heard from him again. Now, we see the government is using our ideas, language, and even photos and videos of me and my work to legitimise this event. Without our approval. Without our participation. And without compensation,” she disclosed.

“They are using my brand and my name to suggest credibility, garner press and gain sponsors, while ignoring every aspect of the proposal and strategy that would actually make an impact for the Guyanese people,” she said.

Wilson made it clear that she does not support the Origins fashion festival and demanded that all materials in relation to her be taken down immediately.

Meanwhile, on Friday afternoon, Minister Walrond responded rejecting Wilson’s claims as false.

“The Ministry of Tourism, Industry and Commerce rejects the false claims being made by Marrisa Wilson New York and supported by known political activists that the ORIGINS: Guyana Fashion Festival represents her ideas and not those of the Government of Guyana and those persons assembled to deliver this landmark event,” the minister stated.

“The 2022 proposal referred to in her post will be shared on my page. There was nothing original about that proposal,” Minister Waldron said.

According to Waldron, Wilson and her team were contacted by a representative of Alex Graham’s team in the United States.  She disclosed that Graham is serving as event director of the inaugural event.

“Mr. Graham met virtually with Marrisa Wilson and her team on March 13, 2025. In that meeting, the goals of the ORIGINS Guyana Fashion Festival were first shared and there was a meeting of minds on the goals and on a general approach about how Marissa, her Brand, and her Team could participate,” she added.

The minister said that Wilson’s team provided a video that was shown at the festival launch on March 26, but internal discussions regarding her broader participation were still ongoing.

She noted that the proposal by Wilson covered some areas that are being handled by other Guyanese fashion creatives. “So internal discussions were still ongoing regarding the scope of Marrisa’s participation. It is during these deliberations that Marissa responded with the erroneous and mischievous video that has now been reposted by several others,” Minister Waldron said.

Further, the minister acknowledged that Wilson’s work and achievement are outstanding. However, she said, “it is therefore disappointing that someone of Guyanese roots, who had an opportunity to contribute meaningfully to the growth and development of the industry here, quickly chose to go public with distortions, exaggerations, and lies in response to our effort to include her and her team.”

Minister Waldron maintained that the Origins Fashion Festival was developed by a team of Guyanese industry practitioners and event organisers assembled by the ministry to develop the government’s investment in support of Guyana’s fashion industry.

“It is unfortunate that Marissa Wilson and her team have chosen this route and thereby denied themselves the opportunity to be part of this groundbreaking event, for and on behalf of our creative professionals and aspirants alike,” she noted.  The Origins: Guyana Fashion Festival is scheduled for May.

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• controversy, fashion, Marissa Wilson, Oneidge Waldron

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