The Italian fashion industry is providing opportunities for the development of Caribbean fashion designers and manufacturers. Financial support is being provided to 10 Caribbean fashion designers in: apparel, jewelry, hats and other accessories.

Caribbean designers have been provided feedback and advice by Italian experts for furthering the development of their fashion lines. Arts promoters and buyers are meeting Caribbean artists and entrepreneurs to generate new business opportunities toward increasing the export of the region’s cultural goods and services.

Caribbean fashion is diverse and vivacious and is often seen through the renowned Caribbean cultural activity – Carnival – which is a medium to freely express oneself. The Caribbean has more of a contemporary form of fashion than traditional, more of a medium for self expression and culture than a reproduction of someone’s fashion sense. Caribbean fashion has come a far way and has been undoubtedly influenced by West African culture which is in fact traditional but with the larger influence of the Americas and Europe.

Caribbean inspired fashions have been gracing runways for years. Not only are there more local fashion shows in the Caribbean region, diaspora designers are infusing their culture in the aesthetics of their brands. For example, Haitian-Italian designer Stella Jean is one of those mainstream designers making a bold statement on the runway, always brilliant with a touch of Haiti in every collection.