With all that has been happening in designing lately, Bartica wanted a piece of the action and got in last weekend when hometown girl Sonia Noel went up and organized a contest for the town’s up and coming designers.
Bartica made a statement, with some of its more gifted citizens revealing garb that could have easily have been shown on the opening night of Guyana Fashion Weekend 2k8; and in the case of one designer on the final night when the show wrapped up, with some of the country’s best.
Melinda Adams, who has been hailed as truly gifted, emerged the winner of Bartica’s designer quest. She will debut nationally at Guyana Fashion Weekend 2009 and based on what she has already done, the collection is going to be among the most anticipated.
GFW 2009 is far way off but according to Sonia, the 18-year-old has the artistry that sets a collection apart, and will grow tremendously by then. She said Melinda sprung out of obscurity in Bartica and grew in a few weeks during the competition to a designer with a keen eye for detail, flattering cuts and simply, chic pieces.
“Her colour coordination was just amazing, it blew me away and everyone that was there. From the minute her collection hit the stage I and the other judges knew that it was special, and nothing that came after struck us like that,” Sonia said.
But equally impressive were those named in the top four. According to Sonia, it was an explosion of talent that is rarely seen in a competition at any one time. She was quick to point out that her connection to Bartica has nothing to do with her assessment of what unfolded there.
She revealed that persons in the community had been pressing her for a long time to return to Bartica and do something along the lines of fashion; something that they could sustain, and she came up with the idea of designer quest. She said the event generated enormous buzz in Bartica, adding that people just showed up and asked to be a part of it.
In the end 16 persons were shortlisted for the competition, and four were eventually singled out for quality work. She said that Bartica supported the event and has since called for it to be an annual one. Sonia flew back home from Barbados for the competition. She pointed out that the Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company was also on board.
What was interesting about it according to Sonia, was that young men also showed up and participated in the event; one young man even placed third
“I honestly did not expect to be as amazed as I was by what I have seen. There is much potential there and I hope to be a part of it as it grows,” she added.
