On Saturday last, nestled in the Oasis at Pegasus Hotel, Guyanese fashion icon Sonia Noel and her team of associates executed another great event to bring awareness and raise funds for the Sickle Cell Association of Guyana.
Hours before a number of designers showcased their masterpieces, an awareness walk was held which started at 06:00h and proceeded along several streets throughout Georgetown. Then, at the actual fashion show, the audience was addressed by Nurse Bond, an executive member of the Sickle Cell Association of Guyana, who shared the importance of building awareness about the disease. He expressed his gratitude to Noel for her outstanding contributions thus far.
The show got underway with a collection from Andy Cummings, winner of Designer Portfolio, which was hugely appreciated by the audience.
The collections of Deborah Mathias, Channey Wong, Hashim Alli and Melicia Pertab, Meleesa Payne, Neilson Nurse as well as the men’s and women’s collections by Sonia Noel followed.
The models wore the outfits well and were constantly applauded by the audience as one breathtaking piece after another came down the runway.
Any Guyanese knows how terribly difficult it can be to gain the approval of an audience, and, as such, the positive response was very encouraging not only to the first-time designers but the seasoned ones as well.
There was also a Dutch auction chaired by prominent attorney Nigel Hughes who managed to squeeze quite a few cents out of the audience in support of people with sickle cell, more than $20,000.
The evening also saw several performances by up and coming singers Joanne Ford and Travis Bowen, who wowed the crowd with his moves and serenaded on bended knee, one lucky guest in the front row.
In addition, the winner of the Sickle Cell logo design competition was announced. Chontelle Stewett won a day trip for two to Baganara Resort, compliments of the tourist destination, with her innovative design. It was this design that also graced the t-shirts that Noel had made for the Sickle Cell Awareness Walk.
Those who missed out on the fashion display can still support the Sickle Cell Foundation by purchasing buttons and bumper stickers at the Foundation or Sonia Noel’s office, 176 Barr Street, Kitty, or by donating directly to the Sickle Cell Foundation.
At the event, several public figures were in attendance including Human Services and Social Services Minister Jenifer Webster and reigning Miss Guyana Universe Katherina Roshana.