There are three things that the organisers at Fashion Week Trinidad and Tobago (FWTT) can do differently next year. 

1)They can ramp up the lighting  on the catwalk for more impact, I counted at least two poorly lit spots;

2)They can make the cocktail function an invitation-only event  or host it in a bigger room cutting  back on  the claustrophobic feeling guests had; 

3)They can reserve specific seats for the designers so they are not left standing to watch the show ;

With that off my chest, I can comfortably say  that debut night of FWTT  was  so hot, it practically caused a  fire  with all the  Caribbean style,  fresh faces and  nubile bodies.  

Organisers Dianne Hunt and Richard Young made the right moves by taking the show to the Hyatt Hotel after having it in Adam Smith Square last year. Not only was the room spacious and elegant enough but Young also attributed the upscale Port of Spain location for the reason why Fashion Week saw such a massive and diverse turnout of models at its casting call. 

“We had many East Indian girls at the casting and that’s not usual,” he said, “some  of them were 5 feet 10 inches to  6 feet tall.”

Last night' the models, including US based Dominique Armorer and Synergy   Supermodel winner, Pearl Joseph,  had loads of  the right attitude on the ramp (the usually fabulous Angel Ross had a tough night  with one broken heel and another noticeable stumble)  and  did justice to the designers’ collections which included Barbados based Brown Sugar, Heather Jones, DLR ‘D’, Michael Vogue Designs, Faraii, Lisa Laurie Clothing,  MillHouse and the return of  CPFS, Claudia Pegus’ ready-to-wear line.

There were some standouts.

Farraii was amazing  and entirely modern  with their sexy, bandaged and well constructed swimsuit collection. 

Heather Jones was predictable with  her  dreamy dresses that used bold colour and oversized ruffles for drama.  Brown Sugar had a very commercial and contemporary line that moved  exceptionally well on the body.

But  clearly the two stars of the evening were Gregory Mills of   MillHouse Menswear  and Claudia Pegus for CPS (disclaimer I do publicity for Claudia Pegus). With their workmanship evident in their garments, both designers scored top points for having a true collection i.e. pieces that can be bought separately and woven into different outfits. Both  too had perfect styling with MillHouse Menswear donning  his models with arms bands and vests in largely sombre colours   and Pegus’  stylist using gold masks,  beige fishnet stockings and high-heeled Roman sandals  with great impact. Claudia’s concept item which was modeled by a sashaying "transvestite''" caused  the requisite commotion and shock appeal.

Back to the runway, Dianne Hunt is working the floor, making sure every last detail is in order, thinking about what needs to be fixed for tonight’s show which features Meiling and Hunt’s own line, Radical Designs Menswear. 

 Clearly the FWTT organiser is passionate about taking the industry forward. Downstairs at the Hyatt, long after her the show is over,  her  brain   never stops racing. She muses that  there may be  a market waiting to be capitalized during the days before Fashion Week, she wonders if   designers will be  able to get their products into stores on time , she  elaborates that the dates have already been fixed for FWTT 2010 and so the designers now have the time to get truly ready.

All over the world, fashion is big business and for the first time Trinidad’s designers seem to be waking up to that fact.