Nassau, Bahamas - Islands of the World Fashion Week, now in its third season opened November 11th at the British Colonial Hilton to a packed room of enthusiastic fashionistas. Local dance group "Silk and Steel" shook the runway with beautiful and powerful dance.

Featured on the first night was Harl Taylor BAG of The Bahamas, K-Bobby of Jamaica, David Rolle of The Bahamas, Whitney Miller of The Bahamas, and Jay McCarroll of USA, and ICandy Swimwear from The Bahamas.

Young Bahamian David Rolle stole the show as a feature designer in the NextGen category. The designer who wins the  NextGen award will receive a six to twelve month internship with an internationally recognized designer will be given to a new designer (one that has not previously produced a line of clothing, has been designing for less than 3 years, and does not currently work for a major fashion house) who the panel of judges selects as having the greatest potential on the international scene. Attention will be given to the designer's creativity, expression of style, selection of fabric and colour, and quality of execution of the design. 

Rolle's theme was based on war, and it may have been the first time that handcuffs were worn in a fashion show as models walked the run way with their hands cuffed behind their backs, pulling off a very interesting effect.

Visiting international designer, Jay McCarroll wowed the crowd with his mix of patchwork fabrics in vibrant colours,  in wearable short dresses.

Looking forward to Friday night's show, guests will enjoy the return of Nick Verreos, who showed his line in the inaugural year of Islands Fashion Week, but is back to host Runway 2 with his "In Search of The Next Oscar". Also highly anticipated is the designs of Bahamian Theodore Elyett who was the winner of the pre-event, "Runway to Fashion Week" and his design is featured on the cover of this year's program booklet. Visiting from the Philippines is designer Oliver Tolentino.

Of course there are all the beautiful male and female models from The Bahamas and the Caribbean; and designer Jay McCarroll commented that he was so inspired by the caliber of male models that he wants to do a men's line in the near future.