St. Thomas, USVI – THE Virgin Islands Fashion Week (VIFW) has been cancelled.
According to an email addressed to this media house from the CEO of the event, Henry Marsham Jr., the October 6-12 event has been cancelled this year because of circumstances beyond the organizers’ control.
“As you are aware, the economic crisis has led corporations to scale back spending and to cut costs from their budgets,” he stated. “Unfortunately for us, this has meant reduced corporate dollars for event sponsorship. For VIFW, all prospects of support failed to come to fruition.”
Marsham said that producing an event like the VIFW is costly and easily costs thousands of dollars. He added that without the financial support of corporate sponsors it has become impractical to produce the event this year.
The event, which is said to have put the Virgin Islands on the map; specifically the island of St. Thomas, was founded in 2007 by Marsham who is from St. Kitts.
Marsham created VIFW primarily to introduce fashion tourism to the Virgin Islands as a vital and sustainable part of the economy. He also started it to provide a platform for emerging talent in the Virgin Islands and the Eastern Caribbean to gain exposure.
VIFW has been featured on the top reality programme, America’s Next Top Model, as well as in Shabeau Magazine; SHE Caribbean Magazine; St. Thomas Magazine; LiME, the in-flight magazine of LIAT airlines, and JAMROCK magazine.
This May, the organizers had made headway for the third staging of the event after a launch was held in Atlanta, Georgia.
The promotional event served as a teaser for the islands’ most in demand designers. It also showcased the best runway talent from the Atlanta area.
Guests were treated to the renowned collections of Andre Ettienne from the “House of Ettienne, St. Croix/St. Thomas; Sonia Noel from ‘Mariska’s’, Guyana; Roger Gary from Aqua Couture by Roger Gary”, New York; Francis Hendy from Francis Hendy Designs, New York; Charla Conner from ‘Panache Couture’, Anguilla; Yadiyda Williams from ‘Soul Couture’, England, and Kristin Frazar from ‘Trefle,’ Tortola, B.V.I.
Models from the Atlanta area were hand selected to showcase the designs.
Marsham said they truly are disappointed in the turn of events. He added that they hope the economy will turn around enough to allow for corporate support of the event.
Last year, Marsham invited several of his fellow Kittitians to participate in the event. They included Leslie ‘Sugar Bowl’ Morton who showcased his SK Clothing Designs and Venetta Zakers who modelled at the event.
US Virgin Islands News