Boston Caribbean Fashion Week finalized its eleventh year of fashion week on Oct. 19 with an intimate showcase that vibed through the neighboring halls of the Hampton Inn Hotel in Seaport. Caribbean-inspired glam, Flamenco gowns, and streetwear were sent down a runway in between a crowd of fashionistas backdropped by Soca music, applause, and festive island spirit.
After a two-decade career in fashion, founder of VStyle Productions, Althea Blackford developed and produced BCFW’s annual showcase for a diverse group of designers. Along with her television show, “Style It Up,” Blackford seeks to make her culture observable in the fashion industry while celebrating designers who are often excluded.
With this year’s theme being “create,” designer brand Dress With Confidence digs deeper into the Caribbean’s African roots with shimmering geometric and floral prints emphasizing bright skirts and dresses, topped with matching traditional headpieces. Since she was a teen, Boston boutique owner, Yolanda Sealy, shows her experience with shapes and striking colors.
Designs by H.E.R. Fashion inspired by social inclusion and environmental sustainability filled the runway with androgynous grunge and pocket-clad street elements. Designer Hannah Elyzabeth Richards uses accessories to compliment a dark color palette by embellishing with detailed patches and grommets.
HRF, led by designer Heily Rivas, plays with Colombian-style patchwork via recycled materials to create dresses with shapes that are anything but one-dimensional. Inspired by nature, Rivas’ work is seen in blues and greens that stream down to ruffled hems, reminiscent of the highlights and lowlights in bodies of water.
Oyinda’s vibrant knit pieces redefine knitting—the attention to detail in floral, flirty warm weather attire show the versatility of any fabric. Crochet artist Sarah Akinbuwa garnered viral media attention for her rosette-embellished pink prom dress—inspired by Zendaya’s Valentino dress from the SAG awards.
LiZa’s formalwear prints elegance on dresses and long jackets—if the additional stately cane weren’t obvious enough. Still, these designs were never meant for only one occasion, boasting a collection with versatile accessories too. Designer Joseph Anne Elizabeth designs custom clothing highlighting the royalty within an individual.
Orenda’s understated streetwear contrasts with draping, muted colors with shiny buckles. Led by designer Tyson Buggs, the clothing notes of high fashion influences with an emphasis on fabric choice. The tops and bottoms seem to touch on ‘90s casual wear, and resemble shapes in Japanese streetwear. Orenda’s fashion seeks to promote “diversity and inclusivity” through their mixed style.
Ann Jodes’ collection, “Venus Blooms,” unfolds in red and burgundy leather-like jackets, fringe stemming from grommets, and pleated hems that are “inspired by a woman’s life journey.” Like the designers on the roster, Jody-Ann Allen’s fashion shows off the many things one can style up streetwear.
BCFW ended the event with a speech acknowledging the opportunities for designers and the fashion-focused to workshop their ideas at the St. Kitts and Nevis Marriott Resorts in the Caribbean. The BCFW ends with inspiring words from Althea Blackford for new and established fashion artists to explore their textile talents.
