THE Ministry of Tourism, Industry and Commerce on Monday officially invited designers, models, and creatives to apply to participate in the inaugural ORIGINS: Guyana Fashion Festival, happening May 2–4, 2025 at the historic Railway Courtyard in Georgetown.

According to a press release, this landmark three-day fashion event celebrates innovation, heritage, and the future of fashion in Guyana, offering emerging and established talent a high-profile platform to shine on a national and global stage.

The ministry urges designers to use the event to showcase their vision.

“This is an exceptional opportunity to present your collections on one of the most exciting stages in the fashion industry. Designers from all categories are welcome: contemporary wear, evening wear, menswear, womenswear, cocktail and casual wear, cultural and traditional wear, accessories, jewelry, costume design, avant-garde, and more. Present your collection of cohesive looks and be part of a professionally curated show with full production support,” the release said.

The deadline for designer submissions is April 8, 2025. Those interested are required to submit portfolios, designer bio and collection images to auditions@origins.gy

Regarding models, the release said ORIGINS is looking for passionate, professional, and aspiring models (ages 17+) to walk in one of Guyana’s most anticipated fashion productions.

Auditions and casting takes place on Saturday, April 5, from 09:30hrs to 13:00hrs at the Railway Courtyard on Lamaha Street.

Pre-registration is strongly encouraged. Models are asked to email name, age, contact info, and full-length photo to auditions@origins.gy.

According to the release, the event is more than a fashion show.

“In addition to creative runway shows, the festival will offer capacity building workshops such as AI and the Future of Creativity: Transforming Fashion, Art, and Design in Guyana, Textile Identification and Model Coaching.

A series of panel discussion will be organised on topics including ‘Breaking Barriers: Overcoming Challenges in Guyana’s Creative Industry’, ‘Sustainability & The Future of Caribbean Fashion’, and ‘Fashion as a Driver of Economic Growth’. These events are designed to foster both local and international collaborations, providing Guyanese creatives with the training, exposure and opportunities needed to succeed.

The Origins: Guyana Fashion Festival aims to position Guyana as a key player in the global fashion industry while celebrating the country’s rich cultural diversity and heritage.

Origins Guyana is a visionary initiative supported by the Government of Guyana, and spearheaded by the Ministry of Tourism, Industry and Commerce,” the release.

It added that the festival is expected to attract international buyers, influencers, and media — showcasing Guyana’s rich creative talent on the world stage.

Information on the festival can be found at www.origins.gy. For general queries an email can be sent to info@origins.gy
For updates and additional information, persons can follow on IG, FB and TikTok : @guyanafashionfestival, the ministry said.