International exposure for local designers

The National Investment Promotions Inc. (NIPI) in collaboration with the European Union (EU) facilitated two local designers to showcase their designs internationally in Toronto at Caribbean Fashion Canada a production entitled “Fashion has no borders”.{{more}}

Local designers Kimon Baptiste (Winner of 2008 Caribbean Fashion awards Best Country Designer award SVG) and Kimya Glasgow were this country’s representatives amongst 10 other regional and international designers.

Both designers expressed that they have gained a wealth of knowledge, experience and exposure during the week preceding the show. They went through rigorous training by Pennant Media Group, to better equip themselves for interviews with the international press and for their portfolio presentation.

After this in-depth training, in which all the designers participated, 5 of the 12 designers (including both Kimon and Kimya) were chosen to appear on City TV’s “Breakfast Television”, a programme aired world wide (received here in SVG on channel 62), to showcase their designs and speak about their country. They were also interviewed by different magazines, newspapers and radio stations in Canada.

The Grand Finale was held on 25th July 2008 at the Palais Royal Ballroom Toronto, where they were interviewed by Jeanne Beaker host of Fashion Television. Jeananne Beaker also hosted the gala event along with International Super Model Yasmine Warsome. This spectacular event was captured by a string of international press which includes, City TV, CTV, Fashion Television, Toronto Sun Newspaper and other magazines. Also in attendance were the CEO for Caribbean Airlines, CEO for Mac Cosmetics and representatives from the NIPI: Shanna Browne (Export Development Officer) and Angenella Young (Research and Information Development Assistant).

The NIPI is proud to have facilitated yet another opportunity for our top local designers to export their talent in the fiercely competitive international market. The creative industry is one of the few sectors which offers a competitive advantage for St Vincent and the Grenadines, and NIPI would therefore continue to enable talented Vincentians to improve and enhance their export potential.

The NIPI in the near future would work in partnership with business support organizations such as St Vincent and the Grenadines Chamber of Industry and Commerce and Coalition of Service Providers to ensure that persons in the industry organize themselves into relevant associations or organizations in order to capitalize on benefits to be derived from agreements like the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA).