IWFW 2009

Nassau, Bahamas - Mode Iles Ltd., organizers of the award-winning Islands of the World Fashion Week, announced that this year an additional feature of the initiative to promote designers from islands around the world and expose them to major international media and markets will be the launch of “ Islands of the World Fashion Tour”, commencing with a runway show stop at Fashion Week El Paseo in Palm Springs, California, on the 24^th March, 2010.

Owen Bethel, President of Mode Iles, indicated that “the Tour is an outgrowth of the original business concept of introducing these talented designers to buyers and trade media in key markets around the world. This first step will see us launch the Tour in Palm Springs with three designers who have been recipients of awards in previous editions of Islands of the World Fashion Week, then move later in the year to Chicago and Miami. Several other cities are being considered and negotiated, but may be withheld until the next Tour is scheduled. This year the Tour will end with the main event in Nassau in November (5^th – 7^th). This year’s main event promises to be particularly spectacular as it will be dedicated to the on-going relief and re-building efforts in Haiti after the destruction by an earthquake in January. Haiti is an island nation which embodies the principles and mission of Islands of the World Fashion Week, and it has a well-entrenched fashion and garment industry, with significant potential as a major factor in the future sustainable economic development of Haiti. In fact for the last two years designers from Haiti have participated in Islands of the World Fashion Week. Under the theme “Fashion Cares for Haiti: The Relief Benefit Fashion Show” the event will include designer runway shows and guest appearances and performances by international artists and models. Negotiations have also advanced to have the event televised regionally and internationally”

Henry Jackson Design from IWFW 2009

Islands of the World Fashion Week is endorsed by the United Nations Educational, Scientific & Cultural Organization (UNESCO) in Paris, and promotes and brings awareness to the themes of cultural diversity, the environment and climate change, poverty alleviation, and the education of youth on HIV/AIDS, and their impact on island nations. Mr. Bethel noted that “this year’s event is also important as it takes place in the International Year of the Rapprochement of Cultures as declared by UNESCO. Given the many cultures reflected in island states around the globe, and Fashion Week’s special recognition of the role of culture in fashion through the presentation of a Culture & Fashion Award, we look to the designers presenting some very interesting interpretations of the unity and peaceful co-existence of cultures in their creations.”

Other activities associated with Islands of the World Fashion Week, such as The Muse Model Search Competition, the selection of the recipients of the NextGen Designer Award, the Culture & Fashion Award, the Sustainable Eco-Fashion Award, Seals of Excellence awards, and the presentation of the Humanitarian Designer Award, will all be a part of this year’s schedule of events. Past recipients of the awards have been:

Humanitarian Designer Award: Kenneth Cole (2008); Hennes & Mauritz (H&M) (2009)

NextGen Designer Award: Tamika Browne of St. Vincent (2008); Darcel de Vlugt of Trinidad (2009)

Sustainable Eco-Fashion Award: Queen Esther of St. Lucia (2008); Eric Raisina of Madagascar (2009)

Culture & Fashion Award: Tamika Browne of St. Vincent (2008); Jessie-Ann Jessamy of Grenada (2009)

Seals of Excellence: 2008 – Claudia Pegus of Trinidad, Heather Jones of Trinidad, Nadya of Indonesia, House of St. John of The Bahamas, Harl Taylor BAG of The Bahamas. 2009 – Eric Raisina of Madagascar, Murielle Leconte of Haiti, K-Bobby of Jamaica, Harl Taylor BAG of The Bahamas.

Eric Raisina Design from IWFW 2009