Sonia Noel is heading back to the glitzy Fashion Week of Trinidad and Tobago (FWTT) this year, an event which ranks among the most influential on the region’s fashion calendar.
Sonia considers her invite for the third consecutive year, “a huge honour”, saying FWTT provides a strategic and essential platform for merchandising and branding for Caribbean designers living in the region and the diaspora.
“This is such an incredible event and it offers us an opportunity to market our collections on a wider scale, and this year the event is focusing on a few identifiable brands,” Sonia told The Scene in a recent interview.
Sonia noted statements made by the Public Relations Director of the event, Rosemary Stone, which emphasized that FWTT was increasing its scope this year. FWTT opens on May 29 in Tobago with a networking gala for designers hosted by the Tobago House of Assembly and the Tourism Development Company Limited at Coco Reef Tobago.
Sonia said the event will he hosted three days in Tobago and another three in Trinidad, noting some 50 designers are slated to be on show.
FWTT will offer up designer collections presented in seven Caribbean brands, namely, Tobago Style; Resort Caribbean; Cutting Edge Caribbean; Cosquelle Couture-trini swimwear; Nouveau Caribbean; New World Style and Haute Caribbean.
Sonia’s collection will be presented on the Resort Caribbean and New World Styles; showcasing in both Trinidad and Tobago during the event. Sonia goes under the label, Mariska’s Designs but will be launching a Sonia Noel resort and leather sandals line in Tobago on May 31.
She described the new line as a collection of different types of cotton, saying it is free fitting and flowing resort dresses which women can also dress up depending on the occasion. She will also debut a versatile rap dress which can be work six ways. Additionally, Sonia will launch a leather footwear line which includes slippers and scandals embellished with stones.
Sonia says her collection for the Trinidad show is a full black and white one, and since she has taken on breast cancer as a concern, she will also show a few pink pieces. “I am really excited to show the collection I created to honour breast cancer survivors,” Sonia added.
She disclosed that model Meleesa Payne, who was a hit at the event last year, will accompany her to the show. She said too that the reigning top models, Yolanda Kerr and Jermaine Victor will also model at the event in Trinidad.
Sonia had showcased her ‘Hybrid’ collection at FWTT last year, collection which paid tribute to vegetation and undergrowth of the forest.
