The Carifesta Countdown has begun and some designers across the region are gearing up for the fashion extravaganza to be held in Guyana during the creative festival; others are hoping to get the nod from their respective countries to make the trip here.
Anguilla already gave the Carifesta okay to young designers, Janay Reymond and Alexis Ryan and the two are promising hot collections. Reymond in particular has a sizzling swimwear collection to unveil at the event.
Chief Executive Officer of Carifesta Fashion, Sonia Noel told The Scene in a recent interview that everything is going as planned. She said Caribbean designers who together offers great variety and fabulous style are interested in coming. But according to Noel, the call as to who makes it here and who doesn’t lies with the participating countries.
“They have to name the persons they are sending and then inform us. We would be happy to have as many as we could but that call just simply is not ours to make,” Noel said.
The Barbados-based Guyanese designer said the Carifesta fashion team is working tirelessly to ensure that every plan is executed. She said so far there are no complaints, adding that it is only a matter of time before the event is “upon us”.
Janay Reymond, 19, is fast building a reputation as a hot, new, sizzling swimwear designer. Since the official launch of her line, ‘Feelo’ Je Traffik Jam in July 2007, Janay has created waves. She has showcased her pieces at: WMM’s ‘Show Me Your Body in St Kitts, the Nevis Fashion Weekend, Virgin Islands Fashion Week and many fashion events in Anguilla and St Maarten.
Her designs have also placed in the top 5 at the 2007 Miss Earth Pageant courtesy of Miss Je T’aime Cerge; won best swimsuit at the 2007 Miss Venus Model Pageant, and won third runner up Miss Caribbean Culture courtesy of Miss Latoya Hughes.
Reymond designed her first dress at age twelve for a cousin who was participating in the Miss Anguilla Pageant and discovered her passionate for designing. A few years later she launched her independent label, Feelo’Je.
According to Janay, she chose the name as both a dedication to everyone who inspired and encouraged her to follow her dream and to capture how much designing is a part of her life. Feelo’Je means Feel-of-Jay: the feel being her passion for the art of fashion and her love of designing, the Jay being what she is affectionately called by her family and friends.
Alexis Ryan made a start in the world of fashion as teen covertly sketching portraits with various styles of clothing and accessories. According to a release from the Carifesta fashion team, he was discovered by his textile teacher who encouraged him to share his talent with others.
His first sketch came to life at age 16, when he designed a prom dress for his twin sister. In 2002 he designed two dresses for the Miss Anguilla pageant and grabbed much deserved fame.
To date his designs have been featured at Essence of Style, Taste of the Caribbean, Virgin Islands Fashion Week as well as in Shabeau Magazine, Caribelle, and ITZ Caribbean.com among others.
Alexis has started his own clothing line, TheoChris Designs with his mother Marilyn Ryan as a partner and co-designer. The motto for the line says it all, ‘ TheoChris – Dare to be noticed – Clothing for individuals who like to stand out in the crowd.’
Alexis believes that the clothes you wear have a lot to do with how you feel as a person, TheoChirs he says is about you being able to express yourself how you want to.
