Delivering the Feature Address at ModeTT – the recent fashion export showcase at the Poolside, Radisson Hotel in Trinidad was their Trade, Industry, Investment and Communications Minister, Senator Vasant Bharath who said that “we are proud to showcase our talent, our innovation, and our ingenuity as a people. The absence of monopolies on innovation and imagination throughout the world today has led to a phenomenon where industries with their roots in culture and creativity are increasingly becoming an important source of jobs and wealth creation. The Government has observed this phenomenon and as a result has seen it fit to aid the diversification process through the development of the creative industries.”

The Trade Minister reminded the audience that “CreativeTT was born out of Government’s firm belief that the creative sector has the capacity to become one of the most important sectors of the economy in terms of investment, revenue, trade and employment generation”; with a mandate to “stimulate and facilitate the business and export activities of the creative industries in Trinidad and Tobago to generate national wealth.”

Designers on show were Korporate Kouture; Lisa See Tai; Millhouse Co. Ltd.; Design Lab; Adrian Foster; Blossom Accessories Loft; Lynda Osborne; A.M.E.N Print House; Bene Caribe; CLD; Lush Kingdom; Honamic Designs; Ecliff Elie; Heather Jones Designs International; and Red Fire Innovations. The panel of judges included Raymond Wong, founder of Intricate Concepts Inc; Jennifer Williams-Baffoe; Ketty Cotrebil, founder and CEO of Kameri, an Online store based in Martinique; Calvin French, fashion photographer; and Cheryl-Ann Dookie.

ModeTT is the culmination of a project arising from ExporTT’s third CARTFUND Mission to the French Caribbean during November, 2014. Creative TT, through its subsidiary FashionTT, has worked with Export TT to produce a follow up Trade Mission to the French Caribbean Outermost Regions (FCORs). This project has taken the form of a comprehensive LookBook featuring the designs and merchandise of Trinidad and Tobago’s designers. The LookBook, will be distributed to buyers in Martinique, Guadeloupe and St. Martin.

Other speakers were Mr. Jason Lindsay, Chairman of FashionTT; Mr. Dwight Brown, Acting CEO of Export TT; and Ms. Ria Karim, CEO of Creative TT. Among the distinguished guests were the Honourable Stacy Roopnarine, Minister in the Ministry of Gender, Youth and Child Development; Mr. Jacqueline Charles, Permanent Secretary (Ag.), Ministry of Trade, Industry, Investment and Communications; Mr. Robert Tang Yuk, Chairman, ExporTT; Mr. Richie Sookhai, Deputy Chairman, InvesTT; and Dr. Gillian Paul, Acting President, College of Science, Technology and Applied Arts of Trinidad and Tobago among others.