Gen X 2010 – bigger and better

For the second year in a row, the Gen X Fashion Show was an undeniable success – transforming the humble{{more}} Haddon Hotel Grass Roots tennis court into a hotbed of colours, attitude and edgy haute couture.

Saturday, July 31, 2010, saw the show’s creator Karen De Freitas-Fraser and seven other young designers introduce their new collections to a fashion hungry audience.

Models strutted down the catwalk in ladieswear and menswear, suited to a variety of occasions – from casual to high fashion. They also paraded an accessory line of handbags, and wowed patrons with saucy swimwear for women and men.

The highlight of the night undoubtably came when De Freitas-Fraser’s SoKa ‘Gold’ collection hit the runway. It was introduced with a female model leading two crawling male models, tethered by collars and chains.

Although a few of the older audience members were aghast at the risque nature of some of the collections, most appreciated it. One showgoer said: “That’s what fashion is all about – pushing boundaries and deviating from what is normal. If the designers only made normal stuff that’s available in stores, how boring would that be?”

Another patron commented: “These designers have a lot of creativity and flair, and I hope GenX gives them that boost to further their talents!”

The other designers included Naudica Williams, Godwin Charles, Crystal Daniel, Sherika Sayers, Shernicia Mayers, Jeremy Payne and Iasha Horne – the majority of whom showcased their collections at last year’s show.

Their work this year showed an increase in maturity and panache that certainly came from the regional exposure that they received over the past year. Williams, Sayers and De Freitas-Fraser presented collections at Miami Fashion Week 2009, while Mayers won a local award for Young and Upcoming Designer 2009.

The Next Gen Designers segment saw four young designers debut their talents with creative pieces that experimented with various textures and colours – Rebekah Williams, Rhonelle Simmons, Rachel Bailey and Christal Oliver.

DeFreitas-Fraser was pleased with the outcome of the show, which had a larger crowd than last year. She was extremely thankful to all those who contributed to making it a success.

“I’d like to thank God, my mother and family. This year was a true representation of family spirit,” she said.

De Freitas-Fraser also thanked all her sponsors, the designers, production and committee members, Jasmine Glynn and Ellon Cato (makeup and hair), the emcee Khalil Cato, the entertainment and all the models.

She added: “I hope Gen X is a launching pad for many people. For the new designers to continue in their craft, and the models to either join agencies or continue in that field.”

Minister of Culture Rene Baptiste was also present, and seemed suitably impressed with the talent that was on display.