Guyanese and Caribbean fashion designer and entrepreneur Sonia Noel on Thursday evening launched the Sonia Noel Foundation for Creative Arts (SNFCA), through which she will foster and promote youth empowerment and sustainable development initiatives within the creative arts industry.
The event, held at the Duke Lodge in Kingston, included a little drama, voice and dance as well as remarks and salutations.
MC Russell Lancaster kicked off the event with his characteristic aplomb, inviting Pastor Simon Harris to bless the occasion and acknowledging Sonia’s inherent spirituality. Russell’s tribute to Sonia was moving and informative, reminiscing on her early Bartica days and mentioning her accolades inclusive of which were the Bartica Regatta Committee’s pride of Bartica, the Guyana Manufacturers and Services Association award of excellence in fashion business and the USVI fashion week’s fashion ambassador commendation.
Colonel Ross, assistant director of Culture (acting) in the Ministry of Culture endorsed the foundation and spoke in glowing terms of Sonia’s commitment to not only fashion but the creative arts.
Sonia herself spoke of her passion and dedication to young people and their talent and creative energy. She introduced Richard Young, who spoke of the objectives of the foundation and the timeliness of its establishment and the myriad networking opportunities it will afford.
Travis Bowen and Raqquyah Boyer did a spoken word piece entitled “To be or to do… that’s the question”. There were tributes by Leon Rutherford and Earl Thompson and then Travis Bowen returned with a Bob Marley’s “Redemption Song”. Former Miss Guyana India Roshini Boodhoo titillated with her vibrant interpretation of ‘Mahubala’ – a sweet maiden dancing to drums as she tries to ignore the tease of rascals. Vivian Dash did an affectionate vote of thanks specially thanking the food and beverage sponsors for their generosity.
A stretch limousine pulled up with 15 models in Mariska’s Design commemoration of 15 years of this Guyanese clothing brand. The models included Elite Model Search Caribbean winners, Guyanese Amanda King and Trinidadian Shanika Fernandes, Meleesa Payne, winners of Guyana Model Search and current Miss Guyana India Alana Seebarran.
Sonia Noel and her label Mariska’s Designs are recognizable names in the Caribbean fashion industry and even further afield. Sonia’s designs range from couture to ready-to-wear and are much sought after by people from various sections of the society.
Sonia has participated in Caribbean Fashion Week, St Kitts Fashion Week, Fashion Week Trinidad and Tobago, USVI Fashion week, Antigua Independence Fashion Weekend, the Caribbean Gift and Craft show and highlighted Mariska’s in St Vincent, Suriname, French Guiana, Grenada, St Lucia, Barbados, New York, Toronto and London.
Chief Executive Officer of Diatribe, Silhouettes, Guyana Fashion Weekend, Sonia is mother of two daughters, Mariska and Shonta.
