BASSETERRE, St. Kitts - VAUGHN ANSLYN, a well-known designer from Nevis, is set to ‘fashion rock’ his signature Vwear clothing line this weekend for the annual San Fernando Fashion Week in Trinidad.
Anslyn actually received a personal invite after organisers of the Fashion Week saw his designs, which obviously were impressive.
This Vwear designer radiates nationalistic pride that his name is recognised immediately with his association to art décor and stage designs in the Federation of St. Kitts-Nevis.
He is scheduled to depart the Federation on Friday (Jun. 21).
VWear designs consist of shorts, shirts and dresses for women and long pants and shirts for men.
SKNVibes asked Anslyn how he feels in respect to his upcoming fashion gig.
“As an individual, I am proud of this achievement not only on a personal level but as a Nevisian to be able to regionally and internationally promote my talent and Nevis.”
He highlighted that “to my knowledge, I may be the first designer from the Federation to showcase in Trinidad, and I consider it a great honor.”
Anslyn also shared that the audience was in awe and applauded with respect at the Eastern Caribbean Central Bank auditorium in November 2012 when his clothing line was introduced.
He talked about an accident that gave birth to his Vwear clothing line.
“Like most artists, when an idea hits you it must be put on canvas immediately. Such was the case with me. One day as I came home from a lunch function I was attending, still dressed in my outfit and without thinking, I went to my easel, got out my brush and began painting. As I pulled the brush from the paint, a sudden gust of wind blew the dripping paint right onto my beautiful black shirt.”
Anslyn admitted that at first he was upset over his ruined shirt but, like the true artiste he is, his eyes were focused on the creative stains.
“I was so upset at myself that I took it off, laid it on the table and looked at it. At that instant, something about the way the paint was splattered all over my shirt had a beauty and originality all its own.
“I got the brush, duplicated what happened and Vwear was born.”
Soon after, most of Anslyn’s clothes took on the signature splattered paint look which became his personal statement.
Owner of Movado Model Agency Jason Amory, who saw the Vwear clothing, had asked Anslyn to put together some pieces to feature for an upcoming show.
Anslyn, who got very excited over the invitation, bought dresses, tops, shirts and pants and created a full clothing line to showcase at the event that was held in November 2012.
Reportedly, in February 2013 Amory took the show to Nevis, where it was met with admiration and shock by Anslyn’s home crowd.
The photographs from the event were posted on the popular social network, Facebook, which attracted many people to click the ‘Like’ button.
Within days, Anslyn got a call from the organisers of Fashion Week in Trinidad who received word of his designs by Kingsley Thorne, a noted fashion designer from Barbados, inviting him to showcase his line at their upcoming event.
Anslyn recalled that he was in total shock upon receiving the big news and asked the person at the other end of the phone line…“Are you serious?”
Immediately after saying “yes” to the invitation, Anslyn went about gathering all necessary information to make his trip possible.
“I have been to many fashion shows throughout the Caribbean as a model, now I get to be the one dressing the models,” Anslyn expressed.
While creating new outfits for his upcoming overseas show, a well-known respected makeup artist and model coach from St. Kitts, Dwayne Weekes, invited Anslyn to showcase his line at the recently held (Jun. 15) Miss Venus Model Caribbean Swimsuit Competition in Anguilla.
“Wow! I didn’t know what to say. What started out as an upsetting accident has grabbed the attention and interest of many,” stated Anslyn.
As to what the public can expect from him in the near future, Anslyn spoke enthusiastically about Nevis’ upcoming festival, Culturama.
“The public on a whole can look forward to more new and exciting pieces from Vwear. As Culturama approaches, you can be sure they will be onstage.”
According to sanfernandofashionweek.webs.com, San Fernando Fashion Week 2013 would span over a three-day period commencing from June 21.
It was further disclosed that the Simpli Smooth Productions event “is geared towards bringing new works by new designers to the forefront as well people who have a talent and have never been given that chance to showing in an event such as a fashion week, in the hope that they may expand their clientele and also show the level of their work.”
