As the Olympics beckon and the global spotlight is cast upon the Caribbean’s world class athletes for a typical show of excellence, another team of industry pioneers have descended upon the UK. The Caribbean Collections exhibition makes its 2012 debut at London Fashion Week this weekend featuring capsule collections from ten esteemed and exciting handpicked designers, ranging from debutante Juliette Dyke of Jamaica, to Phelicia Dell of Haiti, whose range of handbags were chosen by Diane Von Furstenberg to sell in her chain of stores across the globe marking International Women’s Day.
The aim is to create export opportunities for the Caribbean fashion designers and introduce the fashion design talent which the islands have to offer to a global fashion audience.
The exhibition is supported by, and will honor Jamaican fashion & musical icon Grace Jones who said “It is an honor to accept the first ever Caribbean International Fashion Icon Award, presented by the Caribbean Fashion Industry Association. In all my years of travelling the globe I have never forgotten my Jamaican roots and it is a distinct pleasure to have my work recognized by the Caribbean, in London, my home away from home. In receiving this award, I hope that I am also contributing in some small way to the further development of the Caribbean’s growing fashion industry.”
Photo: Arlene Martin…
Renee Blodgett is the founder of We Blog the World. The site combines the magic of an online culture and travel magazine with a global blog network and has contributors from every continent in the world. Having lived in 10 countries and explored nearly 80, she is an avid traveler, and a lover, observer and participant in cultural diversity.
She is also the CEO and founder of Magic Sauce Media, a new media services consultancy focused on viral marketing, social media, branding, events and PR. For over 20 years, she has helped companies from 12 countries get traction in the market. Known for her global and organic approach to product and corporate launches, Renee practices what she pitches and as an active user of social media, she helps clients navigate digital waters from around the world. Renee has been blogging for over 16 years and regularly writes on her personal blog Down the Avenue, Huffington Post, BlogHer, We Blog the World and other sites. She was ranked #12 Social Media Influencer by Forbes Magazine and is listed as a new media influencer and game changer on various sites and books on the new media revolution. In 2013, she was listed as the 6th most influential woman in social media by Forbes Magazine on a Top 20 List.
Her passion for art, storytelling and photography led to the launch of Magic Sauce Photography, which is a visual extension of her writing, the result of which has led to producing six photo books: Galapagos Islands, London, South Africa, Rome, Urbanization and Ecuador.
Renee is also the co-founder of Traveling Geeks, an initiative that brings entrepreneurs, thought leaders, bloggers, creators, curators and influencers to other countries to share and learn from peers, governments, corporations, and the general public in order to educate, share, evaluate, and promote innovative technologies.
