Sonia Noel continues to be a trail blazer, in her iconic glory, as her significant inroads into trendsetting fashion events keeps the Guyana flag flying high in what some would say is, uncharted and seemingly illusive territory.
“We, Guyanese, must be positioned at the right place at the right time, if we are to move with the fashionable global time and so seize the opportunity to influence the international fashion trendsetters”, says Noel who recently participated at the spectacular Hot Couture… fashion for freedom, in St Lucia.
This quintessential showcase is fast becoming the premier event of the Jazz and Arts festival, the largest and most successful Jazz event of the Region.
The year 2015 marked the third installment of this prestigious extravaganza that seats the like of Nobel Laureate, Sir Derek Walcott; Dame Pearlette Louisy, Governor General of St Lucia; celebrity Talk Show Host Rick Wayne, and members of the original first family of St Lucia, the Comptons, a famous sibling of whose, Fiona Compton, presented a stunning collection, Paradise Prints.
Indeed, the event housed the creme de la creme of St Lucian society, the St Omers, the Destangs, to name a few who were all impeccably dressed. Speaking of which, at least 10 persons in the crowd were outfitted by Sonia Noel, including the lovely and dynamic Dr Desmer Destang and Barbara Jacobs Small, popular media personality.
In fact, the Jazz and Arts event has become a unique selling point for Caribbean creatives, due to the widespread influx of regional and international arts/fashion/beauty/music enthusiasts. With the accelerating acclaim of this event, the media attendance has been growing from strength to strength.
This year, media giant HBO joined the bandwagon of prominent media entities privileged to secure press accreditation and an increased buyer presence, particularly from the French islands was evidenced.
Sonia Noel shone like a diamond, with her exquisite ‘lattice becomes lace’ couture, which was received approvingly by the packed hall with discerning style arbiters and art critiques/zealots. She was in her element showing from carefree resort wear in cottons/linens to more luxurious island elegance in draped and stretch lace to cater to that after five clients who paint the town at Caribbean festivals.
She remained true to form with her signature lattice but introduced her fantasy lace textile, marrying the lush expressions of texture – to present “Lattice becomes lace”.
And onto the first ever Montreal Caribbean Fashion Week where she presented in absentia, but rubbing shoulders with the eclectic and multi-dimensional Caribbean community with its resplendent fashion design practitioners.
The effect was the same as in St Lucia. This time, she presented a touch of her perennial Mariska brand and a taste of her First Resort line. Right off the runway pieces were sold and orders were placed for some of the more intricate of her bamboo and beads masterpieces.
Montreal Caribbean Fashion Week was held at the Oscar Peterson concert Hall at the Concordia University and attracted a wide cross-section of ethnic influenced fashionista and many members of the performing and visual arts, many of whom could trace their lineage back to the Caribbean. It was an exciting and rewarding evening for the Producer Gemma Raeburn-Baynes who celebrated 30 years of her Montreal Ebony Models in the city of Montreal.
Noel Designs will be on show in Barbados at BMEX from May 21-25 with the Guyanese contingent.
Sonia’s bosom buddy, celebrated Caribbean fashion guru, Trinidadian Richard Young was Creative Director for both these events, Hot Couture and Montreal Caribbean Fashion Week. Sonia and Richard look forward earnestly to the big plans of Guyana Fashion Week 2015, set for November 1-8.