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The work of over 40 local and diaspora fashion designers is currently being showcased with the premiere of the ORIGINS Fashion Festival, which opened on Friday.
The festival features over six runway shows and local exhibitions at the Railway Courtyard in Georgetown, under the theme “Foundations of Guyanese Fashion.”
The ORIGINS Committee has expressed its excitement over the overwhelming response from designers, models, and members of the public, noting that the show is committed to ensuring everyone benefits from this historic event aimed at building Guyana’s fashion industry.
President Dr Irfaan Ali, in a message broadcast at Friday’s event, hailed the festival as a vibrant celebration of creativity and talent.
“It offers the opportunity to showcase the dynamism of the fashion industry and highlight the role of fashion as a catalyst for the diversification of our tourism sector,” he noted.
The President added that with the global fashion event market projected to surpass US $200 billion by 2032, Guyana is positioning itself to tap into this lucrative market.
“Hosting fashion festivals is at the forefront of our strategy to diversify and enhance our tourism offerings. We intend to add new niches and captivate both local and international audiences.”
In this regard, he said fashion festivals are more than just a display of art – they are powerful economic engines that attract visitors from across the globe, creating opportunities for talented fashion designers and models while stimulating the hospitality, retail, and service sectors.
“This sub-sector opens up doors for collaboration and investment, contributing to job creation and skills development. Fashion tourism has the potential to promote Guyana as a unique destination on the global fashion market,” President Ali said.
The event continues with free workshops on Saturday and Sunday, featuring topics such as fashion illustration and design (for beginners and advanced levels), model coaching on getting runway-ready, makeup application techniques, creative writing for the fashion industry, and wire bending techniques – fundamentals of costume design.
ORIGINS is a visionary initiative supported by the Government of Guyana and spearheaded by the Ministry of Tourism, Industry and Commerce.
The festival has attracted international buyers, influencers, and media, as it showcases Guyana’s rich creative talent on the world stage.
