AS always, Guyana Fashion Week (GFW) looks out for the young talent of Guyana as part of its ongoing mandate to advance the creative industry in general, but with a special focus on fashion. The latest event will bring about a collaboration of the arts through the culinary, performing, and decorative arts, and fashion in an effort to brand Guyanese style. Aptly titled “Cuttin’ Style”, the event is geared to hone indigenous expressions through these creative alliances to kick-off this year’s lineup of talent.
GFW CEO Sonia Noel said in a recent release that the move is in keeping with giving the youth true empowerment, as mandated by the United Nations General Assembly, in their recent commitment to advance innovation and entrepreneurship worldwide.
And indeed, GFW allows the young talent to influence cultural decisions that would impact future generations, as it seeks to provide and position opportunity for further creative development.
In addition to this spectacular opening, there is also an evening dedicated to aspiring young designers — Courts Aspiring Designer Showcase — giving them a platform to let their imagination soar by designing collections, and readying them for the world of fashion business. 
Identifying a theme and executing a cohesive presentation conditions their mindset to the rigours of the industry, and encourages intelligent analysis of fashion wear and their relevance to the socio-cultural landscape and its economic feasibility.
This forum is instructive in shaping export-ready design talent essential for the building of a substantive fashion industry.
The young designers are: Denita Prowell, Bria Williams, Chenney Wong, Sasha Castello, Colwyn Abrams of Linden, and Tiffany Sampson of Bartica.
An exhibition would be on daily, and there would also be workshops to push the envelope in widening the appreciation of this rudimentary economic sector. Incentives and prizes serve to galvanize interest and mandate the pursuit of excellence. In a highly competitive field, it is essential to necessitate quality and fashion forward offerings. The youth are not simply to join the bandwagon of existing fashion options, but they are to add novel, fresh contributions and interpretations to the table/menu of fashion, not only regionally, but internationally.
Persons who are interested in registering for the workshops can visit the Barr Street office, or call 226-3099.
The sponsors and contributors for Guyana Fashion Week 2013 are the Ministries of Tourism and Natural Resources and the Environment; Digicel; Giftland OfficeMax; Courts; NCN; Carib Beer; Banks DIH Ltd; DD Signs; Palace de Leon Apartments; New GMC; Rent A Tent; Scotiabank; GBTI; Water Chris; Cara Lodge; Making Style magazine, Dracinc, and CONMEDIA.
Limited tickets are available for “Cuttin’ Style”, and they each cost $5000. GFW/COURTS Aspiring Designers’ showcase tickets cost $1500 each, and are on sale at Courts, Nigel’s Supermarket, Kings, Giftland, Amanda’s Bridal and Sonia Noel Designs at Barr Street, Kitty.