SONIA Noel continues to blaze a fantastic trail in her iconic glory, making significant inroads into trendsetting fashion events, and keeping the Golden Arrowhead flying high in what some would call 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 in the Caribbean region. 2015 marked the third staging of this prestigious extravaganza that seats the likes 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 — whose famous sibling, Fiona Compton, presented a stunning collection, called the Paradise Prints.

Indeed the event housed the creme de la creme of St Lucian society: the St Omers and the Destangs, to name a few, who were all ‘dressed to the nines’. At least 10 persons in the crowd were outfitted by Sonia Noel, including the lovely and dynamic Dr Desmer Destang and sister Tanya Destang Bearbrun; TV personality Candy Nicolas; famous jazz musician Donna Hinckson; and Barbara Jacobs-Small, popular media personality

TV personality Candy Nicholas was also outfitted in a stunning Sonia Noel original at Main Stage Jazz. “I have been proudly wearing Sonia’s designs for years,” she confessed.

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. The media attendance has also been growing from strength to strength with the accelerating acclaim of this event. This year, media giant HBO joined the coterie of prominent media entities that were privileged to secure press accreditation and an increased buyer presence, particularly from the French islands, as was evident.

Sonia Noel ‘shone bright like a diamond’ with her exquisite ‘Lattice becomes Lace’ couture, which was approvingly received by the packed hall laced with discerning style arbiters and arts 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 clientele who do the town at Caribbean festivals.

She remained true to form with her signature lattice, but introduced her fantasy lace textile to marry the lush expressions of texture and present the

‘Lattice becomes Lace’.

And at the first ever Montreal Caribbean Fashion Week, she presented in absentia, but rubbed 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 fashionistas 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 producer Gemma Raeburn-Baynes, who celebrated 30 years of her Montreal Ebony Models in the city of Montreal.

Sonia Noel Designs will be on show in Barbados at BMEX from May 21 to May 25, with the Guyanese contingent. Sonia’s bosom buddy, celebrated Caribbean fashion guru the Trinidadian Richard Young, was creative director for both Hot Couture and Montreal Caribbean Fashion Week. Sonia and Richard earnestly look forward to the big plans of Guyana Fashion Week 2015, set for November 1-8.

By Alex Wayne