The University of Trinidad and Tobago (UTT) launched the Caribbean Academy of Fashion and Design (CAFD) nine (9) years ago as the first tertiary-level fashion design institute in the Caribbean region. CAFD has taken up the mantle of providing training and support for emerging Fashion Designers and Fashion Managers in the Caribbean through its Diplomas in Fashion Design and Fashion Management as well as its Bachelor of Fine Arts in Fashion Design programmes.

UTT Fashion Week 2017, a fixture on the local fashion circuit, showcases the creative ideas of these young designers in garment designing, fashion illustrations, textile techniques, digital technologies as well as fashion accessories design. The annual Art and Design Exhibition has become one of the more popular events as guests can visit the week-long installation and engage with students and staff at CAFD. As a collaborative and unique experience, UTT Fashion Week 2017 will see students and staff at CAFD engage with notable fashion industry stakeholders. Designers, Shaun Griffith Perez and Dianne Hunt have mentored UTT’s students during this year’s Designer Critic project while international wardrobe stylist and image consultant, Crystal Ivy London, will take an active role styling for the Senior Thesis Fashion Show.

Support from several other fashion stakeholders, including: media publicist Janine Charles-Farray, Michael Christopher of Fashion Focus, Kevon Foderingham of Caribbean Fashion & Arts Feature Festival (CFAFF) and retailer Candice Bacchus of Simply Runway, who will provide a platform to promote these future Caribbean designers. The theme of this year’s event, Eclectic, was chosen as the designs are derived from ideas, styles and tastes from a broad and diverse range of sources. CAFD’s graduating class of 2017 is comprised of young, eclectic designers who collectively are a diverse mix of ages, backgrounds, personalities, nationalities and so much more! Thus, they have created a collage of creative themes so eclectic, that it exhibits a fresh, new and vibrant perspective for the Caribbean Fashion industry.

UTT FASHION WEEK 2017 events are as follows:

Tuesday June 13th:

CAFD will open its 9th annual “Art and Design Exhibition” at the UTT Campus at NAPA, Port-of-Spain.  The Exhibition runs until June 17th and opens to the public daily from 10:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m. Admission is FREE.

Wednesday June 14th:

Senior students will host “Designer Spaces”; a static display of their boutique spaces at the UTT John S. Donaldson Port-of-Spain Campus from 10:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. All fashion stakeholders, industry professionals, media and the public are welcome. Admission is FREE.

Sunday June 18th:

CAFD will present designs from the 4th year graduating class in a stellar fashion show “Eclectic” at UTT John S. Donaldson Campus, Wrightson Road, Port-of-Spain.

A Caribbean Fashion showcase featuring cutting-edge fashion, “Eclectic” will highlight two segments.  The first part will feature the Designer Critic Show which will featuring designs by CAFD’s third-year students, while the second part comprises the Senior Thesis Fashion Show. Tickets for “Eclectic” are priced at $200.00 and can be purchased at UTT John S. Donaldson Campus, Room 329; Simply Runway, Grand Bazaar; Adrian & Lisa’s Boutique at Hotel Normandie; Fashion Focus and Caribbean Arts & Fashion Feature Festival. For more information, please contact 642-888 Ext. 21145 or 26236.