Caribbean Colour

Vivid colours, loose flowing styles, handpainted fabrics- these are some of the trademarks of leading Caribbean designers

  • "Ras Anansi": handpainted fabric by Christopher Pinheiro. Photograph by Noel Norton, courtesy Maclean Publishing.
  • The crispness of white linen: this trellis-sleeved shirt with organza inserts tops off the lean look of leggins. A Meiling creation. Photograph by Abigail Hadeed.
  • T-shirts on parade: the humble slip-on cotton jersey reappears as wearable art. Hand-painting: Réjane du Four. Photograph by Abigail Hadeed
  • Palazzo panache: a Meiling original. Fabric: Greer Jones- Woodham. Accessories: Anna Serrao. Photograph by Abigail Hadeed
  • Caribbean Classic: waistcoated ballerina skirt by Meiling, richly worked with sequins and beads. Original batik: Pamela Marshall/ Poui Designs. Photograph by Abigail Hadeed
  • Taxi! Heading to town from the lush Toco region of north-east Trinidad. A First Chapter Adam original. Photograph by Abigail Hadeed
  • "Still hoping Sunday never comes": white cotton and voile shirts by First Chapter Adam. Accessories: Camille Harding. Photograph by Abigail Hadeed
  • Swirling skirts and smart head-ties in bursts of tropic colour: by Heather Jones. Photo by Abigail Hadeed

We believe that Trinidad and Tobago could become the fashion centre of the Caribbean,” claims Rosemary Stone, fashion editor of the Trinidad Express. Certainly, some of the most arresting and flamboyantly styled Caribbean fashion apparel is found in Trinidad and Tobago, which stages an annual fashion exhibition, Colour Me Caribbean, in October. Hand-coloured textiles have become a Caribbean fashion trademark; vivid colour and a daring use of handpainting, silk-screen and batik techniques characterise the work of Trinidad and Tobago’s leading designers.

Funding provided by the 11th EDF Regional Private Sector Development Programme Direct Support Grants Programme.
The views expressed on this website are those of the the authors and do not reflect those of the Direct Support Grants Programme.

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