The ´Founkie´ Truth About Modelling

Fashion models use their appearance and natural chemistry to sell goods or services. A model would commonly work in promotional production settings, including still photography sessions, video recording studios and venues featuring live fashion shows on runways.

A model’s marketability in the fashion world depends upon the image that is desired by his employer or dictated by the product or service he is promoting. While an image of athletic virility may be required to advertise youth-oriented goods, a more mature image may be preferred to promote services and products normally purchased by older consumers. A model who can convincingly portray a wide range of ages, styles and personalities, can significantly improve his/her marketability.

The life of the fashion model in T&T is definitely filled with alacrity and skepticism, although there is much to be revered with those who have both pioneered and revitalized the title ´fashion model´, and made the Caribbean proud. There is much to be developed both within the industry and with the general frame of reference, of what people credit to be a fashion model.

Seemingly the industry is punished with photography, photoshop, large egos, local ´ba-John´ model agencies, that promise lies and social media. Everyone and ´dey tanty´are models. The modelling industry doesn´t exclusively mean glamour, but also hardwork, sacrifice and dedication.

“The secret to modeling is not being perfect. What one needs is a face that people can identify in a second. You have to be given what’s needed by nature, and what’s needed is to bring something new.”  - Karl Lagerfeld

However, this ideal of the ´fashion model´ locally can be likened to Bachannal and Hototo. With the upsurge of so-called model agencies, they jockey on the hopes and dreams of persons who are none the wiser - giving some a false/chupidie impression and understanding of who and what a fashion model is. Also, some photographers that may just want to see some women ´dreevay´ in a swimsuit. Robbing them worse than the ´Midnight Robber´, of their image, money and pride, all for a few hundred facebook likes.

Fashion modelling, to many, has seemingly become another approach to reach the social and popularity world of ´snakes and ladders´. However, the craft requires much more than just a ´pretty face´. Modeling is a highly competitive industry. In addition to being attractive, one must be charismatic, photogenic, and must require a strong work ethic and a positive attitude.

Positively, there have been those with Trinibagonian blood, who have made remarkable headway in the international fashion world. To name a few - 

Michelene Auguste – 

(Signed to Models1 in London, England) 

With such an haunting gaze. Michelene Auguste has definitely made her mark as a working model internationally. 

In 2005 Michelene began her initial fashion model training with Coco Velvet International Fashion and Model Management, Trinidad. 

Portfolio Excerpts

• Shoots with Rankin for the Harrods Fashion Lab Campaign and Magazine,
• Aqua by Aqua now AQ/AQ Campaign.
• PPQ for Sleek Makeup Campaign.
• Appeared in Garzia Magazine and Volt Magazine
• Worked with designers such as Moncler Gamme Rouge, Issey Miyake , Mark Fast ,Ktz, Antipodium, Mario Schwab, Felipe and
  Oliveira Baptista 

Crystal Noreiga – 

(Signed to Elite Model Managament, New York) 

Everyone has the potenital to be extrodinary and 21 year old Crystal has taken her abilities to another level. Crystal Noreiga’s breathtaking, chocolate-brown skin and sharp features, not to mention her waif, 5’11 body suggested her prestigious position in the industry.

Portfolio Excerpts

• Flaunt Magazine
• Catherine Habour, London 
• Marc Hibbert for Volt Magazine
• Ben and Zee
• Worked with designers such as Marc Jacobs, Calvin Klevin, Emanuel Ungaro, Allude, Valentine Yudashkin 

Another product of Coco Velvet International Fashion and Model Management, Trinidad.

There are countless others, such as Leah-Marie Guevara, Avionne Mark and Athaliah Samuel but I must make  special mention to another model that I have always been proud of.

This Caribbean Queen from the costal village of Moruga, Trinidad, the exquisite beauty and arresting charm, Soowan Bramble. A truly gifted model..

Soowan Bramble –

She has undoubtly fascinated the fashion community locally and regionally. Every moment on the runway is brought to life with her embodiment of symmetrical glamour.

Portfolio Excerpts

• Face of Campari, Italian Company
• She Caribbean Magazine
• Wow Magazine
• Caribbean Belle 
• Best Model of the Universe Pageant, Panama
• First professional fashion model as a fashion sketch model at the Caribbean Academy of Fashion Design (CAFD), University of Trinidad & Tobago. 
• Worked with designers such as Meiling, Heather Jones, Claudia Pegus, Shaun Griffth Perez, Wadada Movement and more. 

Product of The House of Jacqui Fashion Acency and Coco Velvet International Fashion and Model Management, Trinidad.

In a 2013 interview with the Trinidad and Tobago Guardian Newspaper, Soowan said, ¨Modelling has helped me in many ways, beginning with my self esteem. I was somewhat a shy child who didn´t act out on things, I inwardly wanted to.¨

Source - http://www.guardian.co.tt/lifestyle/2013-05-09/brambles-best

Soowan continues to make us all proud, with her warm/doux-doux darling personality, fashionable appeal, and her assiduous spirit. As she continues to place her stamp on the fashion world, her promising future keeps us guessing. 

It´s great to know that our Caribbean people are blessed with so many talented individuals, and that one day, we will have a fashion industry, which will flourish and be internationally accepted .  

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The Fashion Soucouyant Bite We Ah Wah? - Where Are the Fashion Collections?

After all the dingolay, after we have drank our fill of societal babash, after we wore our best dan-dan...When all the strobes lights and applause has been silenced....What are the remnant thoughts we are left with?

Another year of 2TFW (Trinidad Tobago Fashion Week) has passed. Themed, Saga Pinto in Dungarees (A stylish person, well dressed in denim) which held it's two main shows, during May 16th - May 17th, 2015, at the Pigeon Point Heritage Park, Tobago. And also hosted a designers workshop, which was an excellent initiative within the week of activities.

Riddled with event/project management chaos, the production lacked efficiency, adept overall administration and decisive planning. This harmfully affected the entire fabrication of the two nights of runway shows. Post the show, some patrons were also not pleased and shared various comments on social media, such as; 

"From the apsect of a media worker covering the event it was very bad in terms of organization. I stood all evening the two nights I attended. Those shows both started nearly if not over two hours late. I Never received my media pass (even though my accrediation was approved), never received any programme or order of appearance with the names of the designers and their collections to aid in my story writing had to be taking photos and writing same speed, I could gripe for hours..." -- Anonymous

"The show gets worse as the years goes by...not enough seating accommodation..pple standing...i actually got bored....and well as the 3 others who went with me....they all wanted to leave b4 the show actually finished....the catwalk was soooo low...couldnt even see properly....couldnt even see the person who was hosting....unless you turned around...." -- Anonymous 

Meanwhile, as models gave their best walks unto the runway. Patrons and potential buyers got to see just a glimpse of what is stamped with the label, 'Made in Trinidad & Tobago'. I couldn't help but hmmm; the oh so famous phrase, made popular by Sesame Street..."Somethingsssss, missing...". What was absent throughout the two nights of runway shows? Fashion Fundamentals, 'Collections". 

The development of a Fashion Collection is a creative challenge for every seasoned and upcoming designer but I strongly believe this is one of the principle elements why our local fashion industry still labours through to be recognized and well respected. 

"Let's also talk about some of the designers as well and their lack of proper editing,collection cohesiveness and quality control...".-- Anonymous 

Continually, show after show, runway after runway. We see a few amazing silhouettes but never much of a cohesive collection of clothing. Fortunately, there were a few designers that broke the mold and made the fashion conscious go, Aye-Yah-Yie! And from an objective viewpoint, inspiring designers, such as Brown Cotton, Lisa See Tai and William M. & Co, were the few brands that carried patrons around the Savannah of Fashion Imagination. 

Brown Cotton by RisAnne  - Collection: Empire Caribé

The Bridal Resort Collection, featured adventurous, vivacious, luminous golden form fitted gowns, emerald green flared skirts and draped pieces very suitable for the unconventional bridal party, guests and for the classic woman. With this collection, Martin created an intriguing and classic combination of bridal and resort wear. See More at: https://www.facebook.com/BCOStyle

Lisa See Tai 

Lisa See Tai is one of the first graduates of the Caribbean Academy of Fashion and Design (CAFD) at the University of Trinidad & Tobago (UTT). https://u.tt/index.php?fashion=1

See Tai's love and passion of the tropical rainforest,was well depicted in this collection. All pieces reflected the natural essence and colours of the rainforest , line and form designed for a sensual island lifestyle.

See more at: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Lisa-See-Tai/1455080408048748?sk=timeline

William McIntosh - Collection: The Western Movement 

The Classic American western movies was a clear influence to this collection.

The Western Movement RTW collection, 15, combined arcadian looks with the true spirit of the open western aesthetic. Cotton and Printed Linens served best to the entire vibe of the overall menswear theme.

See more at: http://www.iamwilliammcintosh.com/home.html

In Conclusion, I do hope that Post mortems are undertaken by those who organize these events and the designers themselves. We have many issues within out local fashion industry that we must not allow 'lick-bamcee' and the denial bite from the 'Fashion Soucouyant' to make us ignorant to the changes that must be made.  

We can continue to have fashion shows everywhere, at fancy venues or even on the Bus Route. However, never must we become complacent and satisfied with mediocre standards for we won't mature correctly. 

Regardless of the behind the scenes foolishness that occurs within and between those who are fashion enthusiastic. Strong belief with the correct approach and passion, we will get it right one day. 

"Fashion is about dreaming and making other people dream." - Donatella Versace

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The Doux Doux Past, Vikey Vai Present and the Whey Sah Future - Are Fashion Shows Relevant in T&T?

Fundamentally, Fashion shows inspire future designers and models with shimmering spectacle and outrageous designs. Fashion shows are held in major metropolitan cities of the world like New York, London, Paris and Milan. Internationally, most over-the-top designs worn on the catwalk set out to inspire the imagination. The clothes on display act as exaggerations of the designers' truly marketable merchandise, which will eventually be sold at clothing stores for public consumption.

There are two types of fashion shows:

HAUTE-COUTURE - These are the most fashionable shows, the true haute couture fashion shows almost always happen in Paris, there are even laws to protect this term, not as ´willy-nilly´ as some of us use it. These designers do made-to-order with a few fitting sizes, employ technicians and use just high-end products. These shows are seemingly the most important as the designers (Jean Paul Gaultier, Amarni, etc) seem to dictate the next trends in terms of cloth, texture, colors, stamps and so on, sometimes years ahead of hitting the consumer market. These designers usually do clothes for socialites and wealthy people by order, and oh lawddd, they are damn expensive.

READY TO WEAR - These are the most commercial fashion shows what you are seeing there probably is going to be sold almost the same or just with slight differences in the store. Often it´s a little exaggeration of the designer`s actual commercial (in store) collection. This happens so people can see trends being used and what to expect from that designer. These are the majority of fashion shows you see today.

In my perspective, the fashion show serves to drum up excitement for future sales/business of the showcased designs. However, fashion shows locally are increasingly becoming more of a merriment for entertainment or an event to showcase one´s financial disposition and social class.

Are we hosting fashion events to really promote the brilliance of local fashion designers or is it just another ´set ah fireworks´ to boost egotistical esteems or just another ´something to do this weekend´ event?

¨Where in Trinidad and Tobago, a lot of people don´t understand fashion business. They don´t understand it and they don´t respect it. When yuh say fashion, you are a free artist, so you come, perform, do a fashion show for dem. And they make the money, you pack up yuh clothes and gone home with all yuh dutty clothes and have no money to clean it next day. ¨- Heather Jones – Fashion Designer (Entrepreneurs Anonymous) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a2NPtlPR84Qh

¨When I produce a fashion show, it´s business. A Designer, Show and Sell. This is what fashion business is about, Show and Sell! Once they hear show, its entertainment. ¨ - Heather Jones – Fashion Designer (Entrepreneurs Anonymous) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a2NPtlPR84Q

From an economic standpoint, fashion weeks/fashion shows can generate a huge amount of peripheral revenues in cities that it´s hosted in and furthermore, for the country.

A study by NY Times suggested that the total economic impact exceeded $20.9 million in some fashion capitals. It also found that twice-yearly fashion week events, bring in an annual $9 million to area restaurants, $6 million to local hotels, $6.8 million in retail revenue and $11 million to venues.

I would agree that our economic structure isnt the same as other countries but this doesn´t mean that we must be indifferent to achieve the same commercial successes that are available with effective planning and management. Which I expect are the roles of institutions such as CreativeTT, ExportTT , FATT and any other associations that host fashion shows.

Fortunately, our celebrated local designers and artisans, who have endured and sacrificed to access all of their achievements. Have exported what ´CAN´be originated with the label ´Made from Trinidad and Tobago.´ Now its time to improve and accelerate forward, with what we as Caribbean people are naturally gifted with, Creativity.

Nonetheless, the creative industry in Trinidad and Tobago, is argumentatively expanding. With the emergence of new youthful designers, that chaperon a fresh contemporary and modernistic advent to the creative landscape of what can be produced from sweet T&T.

Objectively, as many other forms of creativity can be lucrative and prosperous. We must also endeavour and keep in mind that we must build a successful fashion industry locally and internationally.

No matter the arguments for more modern solutions, it would be unrealistic to expect the sudden end of the conventional fashion show. The catwalk remains the most logical place in which to show a collection, communicate a group of ideas, create buzz and involve influential retailers and cooperate entities. There is a place for local fashion shows but they must restructure themselves away from being just a show and become a platform for business, trade and investment.

¨Profit in business comes from repeat customers, customers that boast about your project or service, and that bring friends with them. ¨W. Edwards Deming

As with everything in fashion, its about finding the right fit.

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