Seeking to raise the standards of the local fashion industry, the Quinton Pearson-led House of Pearson just over a week ago unveiled his latest collections.
The House of Pearson Couture Show was a breath of fresh air and a far cry from the usual shows hosted by local designers. The show’s structure was reminiscent of one that would be seen during the New York, London or Paris Fashion Weeks.
Over 65 local and regional models graced the runway to display five different lines that were all designed by Pearson at the Ramada Princess Hotel on Saturday, February 15th. The venue was fairly packed by guests donned their very best to support and observe a show which was introduced as the first of its kind in Guyana.
Pearson showed designs from a swimwear, resort wear, evening wear, a menswear line and couture lines.
The show opened with vocal performance which immediately segued into the swimwear line, ‘Bold 2’ which featured bright coloured one-piece and two-piece sets for women along with skimpy pieces for the men. The pieces featured exquisite details that captured the crowd’s attention. The highlight of the line was a plus-sized model, who stormed the runway with a fierce walk and got a rousing round of applause and cheers from the audience.
The line was a sequel to Pearson’s swimwear line “Bold,” which was debuted in 2017. The designer described the collection as one that highlights the power of men and women expressing themselves and their boldness through swimwear.
The resort wear followed and featured fun and flirty pieces with colourful and vibrant prints perfect for getaways or a day at the beach.
Exquisitely designed gowns in gold, blue and white were the next pieces to be showcased on the runway. A model in a silver sequin dress with flowered applique work along the bodice led the segment. A few statement pieces included a blue-green floor length, one-shoulder gown that featured ruffles along the left side. The gown shimmered in the light as the model sauntered down the runway. The last piece in the segment dropped jaws as the model made her way slowly to the end of the runway wearing a white ball gown with an intricate design on the upper portion of the capped sleeve gown.
Also capturing the attention of the audience were some ornate headpieces that were paired with the gowns in the evening wear and couture segments.
The couture menswear line was showcased next and it saw models wearing well-tailored unorthodox suits and other pieces.
Pearson told Stabroek Weekend that his vision for the men’s line was to create fun, fashion-forward looks for men who are interested in a unique style and cuts for the clothing that men usually wear. He added that the line was a fresh approach to clothing that men wear.
The men slowly made their way down the runway. The designs reflected a darker and edgier theme than the resort-wear line. A light purple suit jacket that featured a black lapel, black cuffs and a darker purple sequined design on the right shoulder was the first piece to be featured in the segment. The jacket was paired with a pair of black pants and a black inner shirt. Leather was one of the materials featured by the designer and used as an element to add a touch of edge and highlight the model’s physique for an overall sharp look.
The couture line, which Pearson said was inspired by Guyana’s flora and fauna, closed the show. Dramatic theme music filled the room as the models, wearing gowns and other pieces which were all handmade, slowly sashayed down the runway and attendees all had their phones out to capture the moment.
Standout pieces included a sheer dark gown which featured feathers along both sleeves. The gown was paired with a headpiece that complimented it well and inspired by the harpy eagle. Pearson collaborated with a young artist, Roberto Teekah to have headpieces created specifically for certain gowns. The final and show stopping piece was a silver gown with a scaled detailing that ran from the bust to the hemline, along with a black and red tulle train. The designer explained that the gown was inspired by Guyana’s Arapaima and took weeks to complete as each scale added to the gown had to be hand painted to create the three dimensional effect.
Pearson at the end of the show was emotional to see a dream of his that he had for quite some time come to life. The designer stated that more pieces will be added to the collection throughout the year as the line will also be displayed in Washington, DC in June as part of the Caribbean Style and Culture Award Ceremony and Fashion Show.
