I HAD some memorable moments in Trinidad in the past but last weekend took the cake for many reasons.
O2N STYLE and Exhibition was held in O2 Park Chaguaramas, Trinidad.

Nicole Dyer Griffith and Richard Young outdid themselves with that production. It was the best production to date that the fashion evangelist has directed. It saw the fusion of fashion, dance and music in a super sophisticated atmosphere. Over 20 designers from across the region presented stunning collections on the unique styled runway.

All the designers delivered, from veteran designers Robert Young, Heather Jones, Claudia Pegus, Nigel Eastman and Marando Askee; to emerging designers like Sejoux( Trindad), Dayle Angus (Tobago), Karen Fraser (St Vincent) and Shirrine Gillon( Antigua).

The music that was selected for my collection was Eddie Grant “WALKING ON SUNSHINE” which was played for my black and white collection with a touch of African Print.
During the evening, I sat there and looked around with admiration and thought this feels like the climax of a fashion week. I also caught a glimpse of someone sitting in the front row in her SONIA NOEL DESIGN. In my opinion, it was the best production my dear friend Richard has produced.

His comments are below:
“O2N Style was a successful effort at harnessing creative energies and corralling like-minded creative entrepreneurs to celebrate, strategise and network stakeholders regionally. We, Nicole Dyer Griffith and I, believe fervently in the New World style and the Caribbean aesthetic. We have forged our own identity-branding by confronting our peculiar realities and by crafting our novel ways of life, costumed resplendently by our fashion and beauty arts. With 24 fashion designers and over 20 entrepreneurial style makers, we branded our style and presented it to the world.”

I enjoyed the exhibition because it allowed me to interact with people who for the first time were learning about my books. They were very impressed that I could have transitioned and have written and published four books in four months. My good friend Carlton Defour, who was Caribbean Airlines Manager years ago, came to support me and received his copies of the books. I will never forget how supportive he was for the first few years of GFW and it is always a pleasure to catch up with him.

The exhibition was a beautiful open air space that overlooked the sea and was accompanied by an intoxicating breeze. I was chatting with some clients as I noticed a gorgeous tall woman with a white flowing outfit approaching me. I recognised the outfit immediately because of my signature. She said, ‘We never met but I ordered this outfit last year after seeing someone wearing it on a cruise in Barbados.’
We chatted for a while then she got her copy of WOMEN ACROSS BORDERS. Next day, she sent me a great review of how inspiring the book was and had some very encouraging words for my journey.

The next morning was one of the highlights of my trip and I was re-energised. I was invited to speak at the General Assembly at St Francios Girls College which houses over 700 young ladies. They are asking when I will be back so I must have left an impression.

A copy of LIVING WITH INTENTION was presented to the head teacher M. Gittens for the library. It is a fulfilling feeling when people give you feedback how they felt as a result of you sharing your story. It was time for my interview at TV 4 after such great interaction.

The hostess Karma Ballah got so emotional as I got to an intense part of my story which always brings tears to my eyes. You just never know how your story touches people because there is hardly a day that passes without receiving messages from people I encountered or someone I have never met.

Remember we all have a story that will INSPIRE & MOTIVATE
Feel Free to share with us part of your journey as we continue to celebrate this journey call life BEYOND THE RUNWAY.