CHANGES are coming for this year’s staging of Caribbean Fashionweek (CFW) set for June 14-20 in Kingston. The annual event, which is now in its 16th year, is organized by local modelling agency, Pulse.
One of the major changes comes with a shift in venue from the National Indoor Sports Centre — its home for over a decade — to the Pulse-owned property Villa Ronai in the hills of St Andrew.
“ The nine-acre grounds and buildings will be transformed into a magical fashion village, featuring suspended runways, waterfall backdrops within the natural unique beauty of Villa Ronai. The event will be further expanded this year within the concept of total fashion, which we started in 2015, with restaurants, bars, boutiques, spas and gyms becoming participating partners, offering special CFW discounts to patrons for services, as well as CFW tickets, as everyone preps for the event,” Pulse’s Safia Cooper told the Jamaica Observer.
“We are also happy to announce that this year’s CFW will be the Caribbean tribute to Prince. The event will feature his band Morris Day & The Time live. Prince, as you know, was not only one of the greatest musical superstars who ever lived, he was also one of the world’s great style icons. Pulse is naturally thrilled to be able to present this special tribute and many CFW designers will be creating Prince-inspired collections for the event,” she continued.
Prince
Cooper further noted that one of the special features for 2016, is a partnership with a UK professional group who will host a British Women on the Frontline Networking and Empowerment Summit at CFW this year. They will participate in the business forum as well as attend the shows.British magazine Pride will be partnering with Pulse on a special Model/Designer Search competition in the UK market.
She could not offer a tally of the number of designers set to showcase their work during the event, but stressed that, as has become customary, Jamaica’s and the Caribbean’s best designers will show collections. Cooper said despite the changes, a number of CFW staples will remain.
Caribbean Fashion Week June 14 – 20
“The CFW Gala, held for the past few years at the ATL Autohaus, will once again be held in 2016, on the Thursday of the CFW weekend. An emerging designer showcase will be held in the early days of the event, thereby giving the best new talent from that showcase, an opportunity to show on the main stage during the final CFW weekend. Designer development will be further pursued through the annual Business Forum, The Exhibition Hall, buyer outreach and features in the event’s Look Book. Caribbean master designers will once again show at the event this year,” she added.
Started in 2006, CFW aims to showcase designers across the region.
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