Pretty Please

I was just looking at the review of another one of those fashion fora where an analyst discussed the necessary efforts, such as (manufacturing, e-commerce, etc) for the advancement of the fashion industry in Trinidad. The usual elephant in the room raised his trunk at me. There is an important issue that no one mentions. It is quite apparent, and we all know it, yet it seems like we are scared to say it.

A lot of the local designs are...well... ugly! Hear me out. There is so much investigation going into how we should market the Caribbean aesthetic, and I am fully on board with all of the suggestions. However, a significant obstacle for the industry is that Trinidadians just are not biting. This is partly due to the fact that a vast majority of local "designers" produce undesirable garments. People don't want to buy ugly, unwearable clothes!

While I was looking at the programme on CTV this evening, footage of some fashion show was displayed, and most of the designs were in poor taste! They were obviously constructed horribly, there was no cohesion in the looks of the collections, the designs were definitely not relevant with any fashion era I could think of, and even the models looked like absolute amateurs! A fashion show is the stage for the public to view what the designer has to offer. If what you have to offer is tacky polyester/spandex ruffly ill-fitting stupidness- Please desist from "representing" Trinidad fashion. You are contributing to our problem.

The ideal representative designers who will be able to help propel our Fashion industry as one which can compete internationally and relevantly, are those who are thoroughly educated in terms of design concepts, fashion marketing, their target client, trend forecasts, knowledge of fabrics and detailed tailoring and construction. They are those who can put this knowledge into practice, as well as provide for the demand with an efficient manufacturing method as well as transaction strategies. They work according to the international fashion week timeline, and have developed internet networks as well as physical stations where clients can interact with the fashion. They have a concept about what they want to represent aesthetically and otherwise  and commit to this with any form of merchandising that they put forward. And last but not least, they have a good idea about what real women wear- they have incorporated a stylist to help determine the most appropriate colour-ways and silhouettes for their collections.

So before you think it is as easy as stitching together two old pieces of cloth and calling yourself a designer, use this as a checklist. And pretty please, make our fashion pretty, please.