Pulse International presents Caribbean Fashion Week (CFW) 2009, Fashion Shows,held at the National Indoor Sports Centre (NISC), Independence Park on Friday night June 12, 2009. - Winston Sill / Freelance Photographer

Emissaries of beautiful clothes from as far away as Romania, Barbados, Trinidad and Tobago, United States of America and as near as Kingston wooed the audience at the ninth renewal of Caribbean Fashionweek last Friday at the National Indoor Sports Centre.

Jamaicans braved the weather to experience this spirit of beauty and witness the emergence of stunning designs paraded on a white runway, about two inches thick and thrust out into the audience.

Generally, the designs were fabulous and most screamed 'ready to wear'. But with summer holidays approaching, swimwear was either the only couture for some or a main part of the package for others.

Barbadian Cassandra Mottley, under her label Sheneil, concentrated solely on swimwear. Her blend of bold colours such as green, red and orange was intriguing. Marsha Stephens included swimwear in her collection, Marsha Julian. Her use of ruffles provided a uniqueness to her designs.

But it was Catalin Botezatu from Romania who captured the tropical feelings best in his well-constructed and beautifully decorated swimwear. His use of fruits and flowers as decorations on both the men's and women's swimwear oozed the right combination of the smell and taste of summer, while Jamaica's Kenea Linton's use of props to communicate a story added dimension to her compilation.

Evolution celebrates

Juliette Dyke, designer for Julan, opted for a collection of dresses that ranged from earthy to bold colours. The collection called Evolution celebrates designs that represent the beginning, the present and the future. She explained that this idea came from her thoughts about the beginning of fashion, where it is now and what it will be like in the future. Dyke's signature use of pockets was evident in a number of her works.

Designer Dianne Hunt of Radical Designs created styles that generated a sense of nonchalance. She used mainly cotton in predominantly white, decorated with embroidery and complemented by plain green or green background bags - long strap bags for men and short straps for women.

Camesha Powell's collection, Poshe, was classy, trendy and bold. This Jamaican's application of leather and other fabric, along with silver chains, produced some of the trendiest designs on Friday's programme.

On the other hand, Jamaican-born, Florida-based Marvalyn Nelson's designs were innovative and edgy. Using fabric such as crocus or burlap, her Lamaica label produced the first vocal response of the evening.

Goes directly to cutting

Nelson explained that her inspiration comes from fabric (bamboo and heavy silk) and the Edwardian/Victorian period. Also, "I do not use sketch or pattern for my designs." Once she gets an idea she goes directly to cutting the fabric. She noted that preparing for a fashion show "is lots of fun but hard".

Other designers and labels on the first of the three nights showing of fashion collections were Courtney Washington of the USA, the militant 3rd Revolt from Barbados and Kokobeenz of Jamaica.

Giving life to the designers works were the Pulse models. Each wore the clothes and accessories with his or her individual style and poise to the beat of reggae, Latin American, soca and African rhythms.

Special guest performers were vocalists Tami Chynn and sister, Tessanne.

Samantha Franklin of Bacchanal Jamaica commended organisers Pulse for tightening the gaps between collections as last year the time between presentations was too long.

"The designers brought uniqueness and stylishness. I have seen clothes that I would wear," Franklin added.

Collection from the Sheneil line by designer Cassandra Mottley. - photos by Winston Sill/Freelance Photographer

Cassandra Mottley (left) walks down the runway with a model wearing a creation from her Sheneil line during Caribbean Fashion-week last Friday at the National Indoor Sports Centre.