“Beyond Design – Getting the Product Out” – the Caribbean Fashion Industry Forum

Caribbean Fashion Week is the Caribbean’s most feted fashion week. CFW always features the Caribbean’s best – Meiling, Barry Moncrieffe, the Cloth, Claudia Pegus, Minka, Keneea Linton, Sandra Kennedy; and the world’s best – Jessica Ogden, and Duro Oluwa.
 
It is only appropriate that the Caribbean’s first Caribbean fashion industry forum should be organized on the heels of this event which brings best and brightest of the region in fashion to Kingston. In addition, Kingsley Cooper – organizer of Caribbean Fashion Week – is also the head of the Caribbean Fashion Industry Association (CAFIA) – one of the partners of this business forum. The other partners include JAMPRO and the Caribbean Export Development Agency.
 
CFW’s Sunday morning (9:30am) has been the traditional time for a business forum. However, this one will be different and will feature non-designers as well.
 
Mercedes Gonsalez, one of the featured speakers is CEO of the much-acclaimed Global Purchasing Group. This company is a full-service buying office that plans and implements retail strategies for merchants and new designers. GPG has also advised trade missions from Chile and China on entry to the American Fashion Industry. She will also be presenting a detailed workshop for young designers after the general forum at 2:30pm. This is highly recommended for those who want detailed advice based on their level of accomplishment (email [email protected] for admission).
 
The Forum will also play host to manufacturers both from Jamaican and around the region. We will be highlighting the manufacturing in both Haiti and the Dominican Republic – both centres of fashion manufacturing in the Caribbean. We want to stop being a ‘sample’ area and become a fashion industry powerhouse. Designers from both areas will speak to their manufacturing experience there.
 
The Forum will also highlight how social media and other such devices have become key for promotion and marketing in today’s business. Brands from the traditional – Chanel – to the edgier – Marc Jacobs – are all on social media. To this end, we will be joined by  @Rachievpa and JoMarie Malcolm (of Lace and Zippers). In addition, attendees will be introduced  to the Caribbean Fashion Network.
 
This forum will showcase the supply (manufacture), the demand (promotion and social media) and the presentation (buyer’s perspective). It is not one to be missed!