Renowned Guyanese Fashion Designer, Sonia Noel, showcased her First Resort Collection this past weekend during Caribbean New York Fashion Week. The fun and flirty collection was rich with Noel’s signature weave patterns incorporating vivid hues, leopard prints and polka dot. The event which was held at The Out Nightclub in New York City coincided with Mercedes Benz Fashion Week and was attended by members of the press and the Caribbean Diaspora. Models, many whom were also of Caribbean heritage, walked the runway to the sweet sounds of Soca music. Later that evening dancers entertained the audience with a carnival costume procession on the runway.
The founder of Guyana Fashion Weekend, and the creator behind the Fashion Label – Mariska Designs, Noel has been designing for over 20 years, and has solidify her status as one of the Caribbean’s leading designers. Her creations particularly appeal to women who are looking for glamor and sophistication and her very unique design aesthetic has given her a distinctive edge above fashion labels in Guyana and the Caribbean. Her product line includes crinkled cotton clothing, wraps, accessories and unique hand-painted linen. A regular participant at fashion events internationally, Noel started Guyana Fashion Weekend in 2007 to increase local designers’ visibility and promote their creativity.
Caribbean New York Fashion Week is a fashion event showcasing some of the Caribbean emerging and established Fashion Designer’ Collections, Caribbean Models and highlights of Carnival Costume Designs. Targeting mainly Caribbean fashion designers and models, CNYFW provides the platform for all talents to showcase their inspirations in creative fashion designs for brand launching, as well as, the forum for fashion buyers & investors.
Other countries represented at CNYFW included Antigua & Barbuda, Barbados, Dominica, Jamaica, St. Lucia, Haiti, Trinidad and Tobago, and Bahamas. Another Guyanese designer, Myrna Patterson, also debuted her creations at CNYFW. Though highly anticipated, the show was poorly attended with many empty seats remaining unfilled throughout the evening. Face Of Fashion (FoF), a Modeling & Fashion Design Management company hosted the event.
A savvy business woman at heart, Noel was also spotted at other cultural events around New York City promoting her Makin’ Style fashion magazine. At the recent Guyana Fun Day held during the Labor Day Weekend in Brooklyn, fans had the chance to chat with the designer and purchase signed copies of the magazine. Noel continues her Fashion Week sweep of the City with a visit to the Conversation With Selwyn Live Web TV Show, scheduled for tonight at 8:30pm, followed by a meet-and-greet reception in her honor tomorrow night, September 11th, at the Elberta Restaurant on Flatbush Avenue in Brooklyn.
The next stop for this busy style maven is Belize where she will facilitate a Fashion Forum and showcase her collection on September 19th at the House of Couture Garden in celebration of Belize’s Independence.
Correction……Belize is not an island
Correction noted. Thank you Shenella.