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Islands of the World Fashion Week
 Nassau, Bahamas played host to the second annual Islands of the World Fashion Week. Created and organized by Mode Īles Ltd, the emerging show has quickly become a force to be reckoned with. Snagging top honors earlier this year at the Caribbean Fashion Awards, the Islands of the World Fashion Week showcased the work of 13 island designers and 7 different countries. Bursting with flair and sophistication, the stage was also set on fire by the work of 3 guest designers: Leanne Marshall (Winner of Project Runway Cycle 5), b michael, and Henry Jackson for HNJ - whose recent collection caught the attention of United States First Lady, Michelle Obama. She has reportedly already placed orders for his 2010 collection.
In addition to spotlighting designs, the three - day event also acted as a competition to win coveted awards presented by Islands of the World Fashion Week. Judged by a panel of celebrity guests and fashion insiders, the Caribbean designers included Malagasy designer Eric Raisina, Murielle Leconte of Haiti, Darcel de Vlugt of Trinidad , Jessie-Ann Jessamy of Grenada, Kevin Evans of the Bahamas and Andrew Harris of Barbados.
Darcel de Vlugt won the NextGen Designer Award for her bright and edgy eveningwear. Her work, (the lemon and lime colored evening gowns displayed on this page by two models) emotes modern elegance. The winner of the NextGen Designer Award, which recognizes fresh faces in the design world, receives a scholarship and opportunity to apprentice with an internationally recognized designer. The Trinidadian’s inspiration comes from the belief that “people should speak through fashion and style. It is only shallow if there is no meaning behind what you wear or your reason for wearing it.”
The Culture & Fashion Award highlights standouts that seamlessly infuse culture into their garments. Organizers say that Jessie-Ann Jessamy of Grenada won “for her spice cloth patterns and design, which carries the slogan “Be spice. Discover authentic Grenada.” “We love to print; the process is organic, tied to our love for traditions. It’s not only about the destination but the experiences along the way… in your clothes,” Jessamy explains.
 Highly sought after by design houses Christian Lacroix and Yves Saint Laurent, Malagasy designer Eric Raisina earned top honors as a recipient of the Sustainable Eco-Fashion Award and one of the four Seals of Excellence Awards. Raisina is known for rich and bold textile designs made on fabrics that accentuate the curves of a woman’s body. Coined “silk fur fabrics” his African lace collection included a “crocheted raffia dress, raffia and silk organza hat, and a silk organza scarf.”
The additional winners of the Four Seals of Excellence awards were : Beverly Taylor for Harl Taylor BAG (Bahamas), Kenneth ‘K-Bobby’ Edgar for K-Bobby Couture (Jamaica) and Murielle Leconte of Haiti. The Four Seals of Excellence, one of the highest distinctions, recognizes exceptional performance in overall design creativity and quality of workmanship.
The hardworking models were also given nods with the Muse Model Search Competition. IWFW announced “after months of searching, 15 models from seven Caribbean countries were chosen as finalists. Bahamian Kendrick Kemp and Curacao’s Giovara Geertriuda took home the titles of Male and Female Muse of the Year along with $10,000 among other prizes.”
With Islands of the World Fashion Week growing leaps and bounds, followers are already thirsty to see what they have in store next year.
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