A Business to Business networking environment is being created with the aim of giving emerging Saint Lucian fashion designers and style and makeup professionals access to the 2016 Saint Lucia HOT Couture inner circle of international industry experts.

One of the objectives is to enable fashion industry professionals to expand their own professional network, meet, learn and exchange ideas.

On May 5, Serenity Park will be transformed into the HOT Couture Design District from 10 a.m. until evening. The Design District concept envisages a dynamic environment for designers, trainers, aspirants, buyers and the public to rub shoulders, forge connections, do business and catch up on trends and opportunities.

The post catwalk trunk show, a standard feature of high fashion catwalk events, will be a highlight. As such, patrons interested in pieces from the HOT Couture signature catwalk collections displayed at the Sandals Grande can meet the designers in person and purchase directly.

The Design District will be replete with a "beauty bar" for make-over demonstrations, a photographic exhibition, music and a swimwear and accessories showcase.

Peruvian Designer Luis Machicaowill style a lucky randomly selected person, who will also get to walk away with a Machicao piece.

At least two local designers have been named to participate in the Design District showcase - Intimates designer Victor Lascaris (RI Swimwear) and Alvina Prospere with her one-of-a-kind handcrafted jewelry. It is expected that other suppliers will also have the opportunity to showcase their work and do business.

Cinnamon Event Productions, producers of Saint Lucia HOT Couture 2016 has been working with the Saint Lucia Tourist Board (SLTB) to ensure a strong legacy component emerges with the presence of fashion celebrities.

Joycie Mederick of Cinnamon Productions said under the Saint Lucia HOT Couture component, a free Creative Business training session is scheduled for May 5, from 10 a.m. -12:30 p.m. It will be facilitated by Romero Bryan, a lecturer at the London College of Fashion and Saint Martin’s School of Arts, and will deal with Concept and Fabric Research, Market Research, and PR & Marketing. The objective is to assist emerging brands, students of clothing and textile, seamstresses and other industry partners, to understand the need to create a business component to their talent.

A second paid workshop on Design and Patternmaking will be facilitated by Myriam Belasse, designer and owner of Atlanta Sewing and Patternmaking Services, LLC.  Belasse’s workshop will take a full morning from 9:30 a.m. to 12 noon on May 6. The fashion related workshops will take place at the Blue Coral Conference Room. 

Joseph Marcell, who will play the lead in the Shakespeare Globe Theatre’s production of Derek Walcott’s Omeros on May 3, is also expected to meet and engage Saint Lucian actors. 

Other designers will visit schools and deliver inspirational talks on the morning of May 5, and will dedicate the second half of the day to the Design District.