Come February 11, some of Guyana’s top designers will face off in Simpli Royal’s second annual National Dress Competition at the National Cultural Centre from 8 pm sharp.
The concept behind the competition is to select costumes which will capture interest as show pieces, but yet can be adapted to everyday life for Guyanese. Simpli Royal hopes too that the winning pieces will be considered for use by other pageants when sending contestants to represent Guyana and that companies will also use these national dresses when they are represented internationally or nationally or even for in-house functions.
This year’s competition has three categories: ‘National Flag Colours’, ‘Flora and Fauna’ and ‘Fantasy’. The winner in each category will receive a prize of $150,000, a trophy and bragging rights.
Designers are encouraged to enter this competition by submitting an application and an entry sketch, along with an entrance free of $3,000. The designer must also provide a written description of the costume and music, while Simpli Royal will provide models to showcase the outfit. Application packages are available at Wilo’s Bridals or from Simpli Royal CEO Pamela Dillon – 665-4565.
Expanding on the concept behind the competition, Dillon said that when Guyanese are competing in pageants or attending conferences, banquets and the like, she should be easily recognized just like her counterparts from some African states, India, French Caribbean, the Pacific, US or Europe. She should have a national dress that sets her apart from everyone else.
She added in a press release that recently international artiste Ashanti created an outfit for her performance here; a red jumper with fitted Guyana-flag-coloured sleeves and a bejeweled neckline. “Some of our leading designers that have been showcasing Guyana abroad understand this need and, because of our varied cultures, we are able to capture our life in our national dresses and costumes,” she said.
Dillon noted that depiction of the Kaieteur Falls is most popular in national dress designs. She cited Olympia Small-Sonaram’s design for Tenecia De Freitas’ participation in the Digicel/Haynes Smith Miss Caribbean Talented Teen Pageant in 2008. Further, Dillion pointed out that Soyini Fraser won best national costume in the 2011 at the Miss Princess International Pageant in a piece designed by Small-Sonaram for the 2010 Miss Guyana Earth Pageant produced by Simpli Royal. That creation depicted the Kaieteur Falls and was sponsored by UNICOM. She also noted that Soyini was one of the most photographed contestants of the 2010 Miss Earth International in her “Empress of Shell Beach” costume, which was designed by Kurt Stephenson.
Simpli Royal has, for over three years, been incorporating national dress segments in its pageants and is interested in ensembles that have relevance, fit and finish and capture some aspect of our Guyanese culture with appropriate accessories.
Simpli Royal will reserve the right to the winning designs.
Last year’s competition had just one category and the winner was Randy Madray.
