The spotlight is now on Guyana as a major fashion hub, with the launch of the Origins Guyana Fashion Festival on Wednesday.
The official media launch of the event, which is set to be hosted from 2 to 4 May, was marked by a mini fashion display held at the Railway Courtyard in Georgetown.
It featured designs by local fashion icons, including SAS Designs, Michelle Cole, Mark Harry, and Nachle Designs.
Speaking at the event, themed ‘Foundations of Guyanese Fashion’, Tourism, Industry and Commerce Minister, Oneidge Walrond, hailed the development of the Guyanese fashion industry, noting that it is a force to be reckoned with.
“Guyana is stepping onto a world fashion stage. Tonight, with the launch of Origins Guyana Fashion Festival, we send a powerful message. Guyana is not just the land of natural beauty and economic potential…we are a force in fashion, creativity, and culture. This festival is a visionary initiative spearheaded by His Excellency, Dr Mohamed Irfaan Ali, to give our designers a global platform…It is a declaration that Guyana’s fashion industry is ready to shine, and we invite the world to take notice. So designers and all of us, please join me with this tenacity at this time that the world takes notice of our potential and creativity. Guyana has already produced some of the most talented designers in the Caribbean and further afield. Their work has graced international platforms like Carifesta, the Caribbean Style and Fashion Awards, the culture festival in Dubai, and so much more,” she stated.
The minister added that numerous Guyanese designers have already made a name for themselves internationally and have also been featured in top fashion magazines.
She noted that these achievements signal that Guyanese fashion is in demand, but for too long, designers have been making strides individually and without a collective platform to showcase their brilliance.
The festival, the minister noted, will be a catalyst for showcasing the brilliance of Guyanese fashion to the world.
The event in May is set to feature designs from Guyanese fashion designers both locally and in the diaspora.
According to Walrond, global and regional fashion writers will also be invited to capture the essence of the festival and showcase what Guyana has to offer in fashion to the rest of the world.
A section of the gathering
