Models and Avant-Gardism (Yes, I know that isn't an actual word!)

So i'm about two weeks late in doing this post (OK, maybe three), but I suppose it's better late than never. As usual, I was invited to an event hosted by my friends over at Saint International. This time, it was their annual Fashion Face of the Caribbean finals and their Avant-Garde Designer of the Year award, and as usual, it was a whole lot of canoodling and hobnobbing and fashionizing. 

 

Say hi to the hopefuls!

Shantel Fitten and last year's Fashion Face winner, Ashane Rose being silly for the camera.

The celebs were out, there was plenty of hair and make-up, and most importantly, some really impressive pieces from the designers. (Present among them were Andre Rowe, Dexter Pottinger and Gregory Williams.)

Dancehall star Cecile looking all pretty

Aneita Moore, 14, 5'10", loves dancing

Calvin Klein and Louis Vuitton model, Shena Moulton looking her usual chic self

Me being silly with these two; we're pretty, no?

Gorge!

Before...

After!

Anywho- back to the models... They were tall, some dark, some not so much; some striking, some not so much; all young and thing as twigs.

 

  

Carl Agapit, 19, 6'3", speaks fluent French

 

More Shena! Aint she the prettiest thing? By the way, she was a Face of the Caribbean winner one year, too.

Between all the silliness with her, here's what she had to say about this season overseas:
(If you didn't know, she walked for Thakoon, Calvin Klein Chado Ralph Rucci, Peter Som, Ports 1961, Marc by Marc Jacobs among others in New York as well as Kenzo, Anne Valerie Hash and a few others in Paris.)

"This season was fun, I usually have fun every season, but I really enjoyed this season. I have to thank my agent with Muse, Conor Kennedy, for ensuring I had fun and was taken care of. It was too cold in Paris, hated the weather and all I had to eat was eggs and rice everyday."

Now for the designers, the part of the show I was most impressed with! Gregory Williams, my lil friend, won the Avant-Garde competition (I was notified, had to leave before the end) and I am most happy and satisfied with that. Not only was his piece BANG-ING, but, and I say this regardless of him being my friend, I really believe in this guy's talent. We talk all the time and I know his fashion icons- Rihanna, Gaga, McQueen, Viktor&Rolf- so I know for a fact where his head space is at, design- and concept-wise. So now to the piece itself.

Here he is fitting it before the event

And here is the semi-finished thing! Apparently it had more bulbs and such

The piece easily called to mind Gaga and Daphne Guinness, and while he really didn't have the time to explain to me the concept behind it, I still thought it "high" enough. Peep some more pieces from other designers below.

Designers also showed ready-to-wear pieces, too. Here's what caught my eye.

Andre Rowe opted for soft colours and relaxed fabrics

Gregory Williams worked within a chicer framework, incorporating cocktail/evening elements of simple black and white

Dexter Pottinger, as usual, was all about drama, but what I was most impressed with was this kind of toning down of his usual sensibilities- the eye-catching colour was there, the youthfulness was there, but these pieces weren't gaudy at all

 But who I was most surprised to see was Mizzzzz Yola Grey. I haven't seen her pieces on a runway in a while, so naturally, I had to have a lil pow-wow.

DW: So for those who don't know, how long have you been designing?

YG: Too long! (laughs) Since 2000...

DW: What's your take on the local fashion industry?

YG: We're fantastic! We're always making strides, always doing big things! Speaking of which, an entire collection of mine called "Forever Paradise Caribbean Wear" has been bought by the Hilton Hotel in Altamont Springs, Florida. It's a collection of beach wedding wear, versatile pieces relaxed enough to be worn at a beach wedding, but versatile enough to be worn every day after that. And I have a limited jewelry collection coming VERY soon!

DW: That's awesome! Congrats!

YG: Thank you.

DW: Tell me about the collection you're showing tonight.

YG: The pieces are all variations on the rasta culture- eye-catching colours, organic fabrics- and it's a showcase of different textures and fabrics I love working with. Fabrics for me is very important and I sometimes source them myself from UK and India- it has to be perfect! I'm also showing a little preview of some of the type of pieces available at the Hilton in Florida.

DW: I'm curious... Who's your favourite international designer right now?

YG: I really like Tracy Reese and Nicole Miller. Their pieces are very versatile, very chic, and can be dressed up and down, which is exactly what I go for with my designs.

Dexter being silly

Denise channeling McQueen S/S 2010 RTW

All in all, it was a pretty exciting show; the nervousness in the eyes of the young models made being backstage great to be. The designers, too, really stepped their game up, and again, I have to say how proud I am of Gregory Williams.
Saint International, over the years, has become synonymous with churning out fresh, interesting, reputable faces in the region and overseas, and to be honest, this year's crop indicates that that truth doesn't seem likely to change any time soon.