CAFIF Expands, Sets Objectives In Santo Domingo

The Caribbean Fashion Industry Forum (CAFIF), the region’s “not for profit” fashion industry association, has expanded its membership through applications from industry professionals representing  the Dominican Republic, Guyana, Surinam, Antigua, St Kitts and Haiti. The initial Working Committee and subsequent Board of Directors, consisted of representatives from Trinidad & Tobago, the French islands of Guadeloupe and Martinique, Jamaica, the United Kingdom and Barbados. The wider group of signatories to the Declaration of Kingston, which formed the basis for the establishment of CAFIF, also covered several additional territories, as well as Diaspora interests in the United Kingdom and North America.

Board members are Andrea King and Tonika Sealy of Barbados, Christopher Nathan of Trinidad and Tobago, Teddy Isimit Mirin of Guadeloupe and Martinique, Antoinette Taylor of the United Kingdom and Vitus Evans, Arlene Martin and Kingsley Cooper (Chairman) of Jamaica. Additional Board seats have been reserved for the Dominican Republic (representing the Spanish speaking Caribbean), as well as an additional Southern Caribbean territory.

At a CAFIF and Caribbean Export Development Agency sponsored sector meeting held in Santo Domingo, the Dominican Republic, at the end of March, a wide range of industry issues were ventilated and a number of key decisions taken by the over thirty industry representatives in attendance. CAFIF also held its first Board meeting, after its recent incorporation and appointment of Directors. All of CAFIF’s Directors, with the exception of Antoinette Taylor, who was unavoidably absent, were in attendance.

At the sector meeting led by Co – Chairs Alan Ramirez Risk, Deputy Executive Director of Caribbean Export Development Agency and Kingsley Cooper, CAFIF’s Chairman, a number of presentations were made. Presenters included Italian fashion industry expert Dr Carlo Belliti from UNIDO, who is currently leading an intervention in Haiti, aimed at furthering the development of that country’s fashion industry. Also presenting, was Teddy Ismit Mirin of Guadeloupe, who outlined the funding options available under INTEREG 4, the European Union’s 63 million euro grant programme, currently available for projects implemented in the region, in conjunction with partners in the French Caribbean.

Dr Arturo Peguero an expert on trade policy, spoke about the apparel manufacturing sector in the Dominican Republic and the implications of existing trade policy for apparel exports. Christopher Nathan, Programme Administrator, outlined the training options available for the fashion industry at the Caribbean Academy of Fashion and Design, at the University of Trinidad and Tobago. He also outlined a proposal for a Caribbean Fashion Centre project, which would see certain areas in the Caribbean being designated as fashion districts, boasting a range of services. Socrates McKinney of Dominicana Moda outlined the development of that event which has grown in the Dominican Republic over the past 4 years.

The rationale for the establishment of CAFIF, the resolutions of the Declaration of Kingston and the activities of CAFIF to date, were outlined by Kingsley Cooper. These included the initial Declaration resulting in the establishment of CAFIF in Kingston, the West Indies Sea Island Cotton pilot project to be formally launched at CFW in June; the presentation to the Association of Caribbean States and the endorsement of CAFIF’s objectives in Aruba, last September; the formal registration of the organization at the start of this year and the appointment of Directors as well as a Managing Consultant, Arlene Martin ; a Miami Fashion Week plan for cooperation with Caribbean fashion designers through CAFIF and CFW; the upcoming  European Commission / Jamaica initiative to Brussels, in which a West Indies Sea island Cotton collection by Sandra Kennedy would be shown as part of the CAFIF / CFW / WISIC pilot project;  the CAFIF fundraising and industry wide initiatives being pursued with the assistance of Caribbean Export Development Agency and the expansion of the organization currently underway.

At the end of the deliberations the meeting formally endorsed the following recommendations. Firstly, that the option of manufacturing designers’ collections in the Dominican Republic, be pursued. Secondly, that Dominican Republic designers be integrated into the West Indian Sea Island Cotton project. Thirdly, that there should be a level of cooperation between Caribbean Fashionweek and Domnicana Moda, including an exchange of designers. Fourthly, that CAFIF widen and deepen its membership across the Caribbean. Fifthly, that a 5 year strategic development plan be produced for circulation and approval by the Board and membership. Sixthly, that funding for projects under Intereg 4 be pursued.

Seventhly, that there be collaboration between the region’s fashion training institutions, including the University of Trinidad & Tobago, The University of the West Indies, The University of Technology and the Edna Manley College. Eighthly, that a process of standardization of sizes already commenced, be pursued and completed. Ninethly, that the concept of a Caribbean Fashion Centre consisting of fashion districts in various Caribbean territories, be examined. Tenthly, that the UNIDO fashion system, as presented by Dr Belliti, be shared with other Caribbean countries (in addition to Haiti). Finally, the regional industry would attempt to define Caribbean fashion with the objective of focusing on collections that would provide us with the best opportunities for success.

The next General Meeting of CAFIF will take place at Caribbean Fashionweek 2009, on Sunday, June 14, beginning at 10:30am, in Kingston, Jamaica.

The subsequent Board meeting accepted the recommendations of the wider sector group and set criteria for CAFIF membership. Subject to these criteria being met, membership to CAFIF would be open to all fashion industry professionals in the region, as well as the wider Caribbean diaspora, with provision for special non-Caribbean membership as well.