Left: Jamaica's most successful model to date, Jaunel McKenzie, in charge on the runway at Caribbean Fashionweek 2006 in a Posh Punk creation.   Right: Cool fabrics in relaxed designs are characteristic of the Avark collection. The collection was on display on the opening night of Caribbean Fashionweek 2006. - photos by Winston Sill/Freelance Photographer

Deputy Prime Minister of Barbados and the Minister of Economic Affairs and Development, the Hon. Mia Mottley, will lead a 30-member Barbados delegation to this year's Caribbean Fashionweek (CFW). This is by far the largest- ever Barbados mission to CFW, and the message from that country's Government is clear and emphatic - Barbados is serious about the development of its fashion industry.

CFW 2007 runs from June 6 to 10, with most of the events based in Kingston.

To reach out to the regional and international fashion industry, the Deputy Prime Minister will be hosting a reception in the CFW Exhibition Hall to directly address local and international buyers, press and key industry figures in attendance at this year's seventh renewal of the event. Caribbean Fashionweek is the region's largest fashion event and the key marketplace for fashion marketing and business development.

For this initiative, Mottley is accompanied by a number of officials from the Barbados Industrial Development Corporation, headed by Anthony Sobers, as well as the newly formed Invest Barbados. In addition to the officials, Barbados' delegation consists of 12 designers and seven models.

The Barbados Industrial Development Corporation has been the main driver behind the island's fashion development programme through CFW, and this year Invest Barbados, a key export expansion and investment arm of the Barbadian government, will spearhead new aspects of the Bajan initiative.

Among the group of designers are seven CFW veterans and six newcomers. Wayne Smith, Mark Daniels (Avark), Velda Tyson, Antonio Cumberbatch (Posh Punk), Pat Braithwaite, The Fifth Element and Luna Designs will all be presenting collections from jewellery to couture, with swimsuits and accessories thrown into the mix. The newcomers include Catherine Balgobin (Ashakai), Rojoe, Boiuk, Liandra Springer and Marva Forde.

Hopefuls

Barbadian models have come to international success through such Pulse initiatives as the Caribbean Model Search and Caribbean Fashionweek. One such is Tenille Stoute, who is expected to be a part of this year's group. Other Pulse model hopefuls from Barbados include Donna Archer and Sasha Braithwaite, recently signed to the Elite network, both of whom will attend CFW.

It is projected that more buyers and media will attend Caribbean Fashionweek this year than ever, and development is also being pursued through a workshop to be held by Beth Charleston, an adjunct lecturer at the Parson's School of Design and fashion historian.