Port-of-Spain International Fashion Centre

Establishing Port-of-Spain as the region's hub for fashion biz and garment manufacturing by 2030

Much infrastructure is needed to establish Port-of-Spain as an international fashion centre including designer agents and showrooms, PR firms, model agencies, training facilities, material suppliers, affordable retail space for new labels, trade and exhibition halls. Collaboration among the major fashion stakeholders in Trinidad & Tobago is also critical if we are to achieve this goal. It is worth

noting that Trinidad & Tobago’s fashion sector is being launched with several competitive advantages including:

Port-of-Spain’s Strategic Location
T&T’s strategic location at the crossroads of South, Central, North America and the West Indies affords several business and marketing opportunities for its fashion houses. Export-ready labels will be able to penetrate niche markets throughout the region. This was evident when Meiling and Heather Jones participated in Plataforma K fashion and trade show in Barranquilla, Columbia from March 22-27, 2010. Heather Jones Designs was able to secure orders from clients in Latin America while Meiling’s Collection Noir received rave reviews from the region’s fashion press. Accessible Air & Sea Transportation
Orders for fashion products may be flown or shipped to clients around the world without undue hassle. T&T owns a thriving international airline that provides daily service to ports around the globe; new international carriers will be attracted to the country as we gain reputation as the commercial hub of the Caribbean. The government is also considering a regional fast ferry service from Port-of-Spain linking the Eastern Caribbean archipelago which will allow designers to ship merchandise to high end boutiques and stores in exclusive hotels up the island chain. Highly creative, technologically savvy workforce
Trinidadians & Tobagonians are not only highly literate but also very creative and tech savvy; these virtues can help to position the fashion industry as a world leader in apparel design and construction through uncompromising quality control and attention to detail in the same way that Italy built their fashion industry in the 1970’s. We have a long established reputation for excellence in dressmaking and tailoring which go back many centuries. Professor Andrew Ramroop, Master Tailor/Managing Director of Maurice Sedwell Bespoke Tailors of Savile Row, London pledged his support for the Port-of-Spain International Fashion Centre Initiative when he presented a collection of handcrafted suits at Makin’ Style Gala Fashion Collections on August 07, 2010 at the Hyatt Regency Trinidad. Professor Ramroop has offered to establish a branch of Maurice Sedwell in the proposed fashion strip on Dock Road.

16/11/2025

This morning I want to give lots of flowers to the Trinidad & Tobago fashion designers that contributed looks for Latifah Morris' wardrobe;
So far I have been able to identify garments from Zadd & Eastman Claudia Pegus and Kaiso Swim .swim

The outstanding T&T wardrobe is creating quite a buzz with global fashionistas, beauty pageant influenzers and social media bloggers, kudos also to Stevie Jones, the Miss Universe TT nationional franchise director and his team for an exceptional job getting our Latifah ready in such a short time span.

T&T Fashion Industry Potential:
Let us hope that our Hon PM, her Cabinet colleagues and officials at the Trinidad & Tobago Trade & Investment Promotion Agency are taking note and recognizing the global potential for Trinidad & Tobago fashion merchandise.

I have run out of steam trying to convince successive government administrations for over 28 years to position and market Port-of-Spain the region's Fashion Capital, invest more resources to incubate and develop our talent, put the required manufacturing infrastructure in place in order to transform our cottage fashion industry into a globally respected, economically viable industrial sector. Now that I have left T&T I will see if the Minister of Trade K**a Maharaj is smart enough to beat the iron while it's hot and not lose this golden opportunity.

Christopher Nathan

Photo Credits:
Latifah Morris - Miss Universe T&T 2025
Fashion Styling
Photo by Calvin French

31/07/2025

13/04/2025

Coco Velvet International Media Release:
Pioneering Fashion Education and Technical Skills Training for the Caribbean's Textiles and Garment Manufacturing Industries

On May 13, 2025 the West Indies fashion community will take one more step toward its mission to establish the region as a "World Fashion Centre" for the Resortwear fashion market when the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States OECS convenes a meeting with Coco Velvet International Fashion Management CEO Christopher Nathan to discuss the establishment of the Eastern Caribbean Academy for Creative Arts & Design.

In 2006 Mr. Nathan initiated the region's first tertiary level fashion programme at UTT - The University of Trinidad and Tobago In 2014 he prepared a Level 2 Caribbean Vocational Qualification Fashion Design curriculum for the Youth Training and Employment Partnership Programme Ytepp Ltd and he has chaired several specifications committees for occupational and industrial standards at the Trinidad & Tobago Bureau of Standards and the National Training Agency.

When established the E.C Academy for Creative Arts and Design will enable aspiring fashion, textiles and accessories designers to access world-class technical training in Kingstown, Saint Vincent and Castries, Saint Lucia. Fashion education and technical training have proven to be essential pillars for every major fashion centre with London leading the planet's major fashion education centers.

Mr. Nathan's vision since establishing Coco Velvet International in 1997 has been to develop/market the Caribbean fashion brand globally and position Port of Spain as the region's commercial hub for fashion and garment manufacturing business activity.

For additional information on the EC Academy for Creative Arts and Design contact Coco Velvet International Fashion Management

Email [email protected]
Follow CVI Instagram

Photo Ronald Mendoza Photography

09/03/2025

STYLEWEEK CARIBBEAN RESORT FASHION WEEK 2025
September 04 - 06, 2025
Hyatt Regency Trinidad Waterfront Esplanade & NAPA POS

Day 1 Thursday 04, September 2025
Caribbean Resort Fashion Collections

Show 1 4:00 PM
* Heather Jones International
* Meiling

Show 2 5:00 PM
* Claudia Pegus
* Richard Noel .richardnoel
* Daniela And Drew Ultra Bespoke

Show 3 6:00 PM
* Peter Elias
* Lauralee Swimwear
* Kimya

Day 2 Friday 05, September 2025
Caribbean Sustainable Fashion Forum
Theatre 2
UTT Academy of Arts, Culture, Letters & Public Affairs Port of Spain

* Launch of the Trinidad & Tobago Bureau of Standards Guide to Sustainable Garment Manufacturing National Standard
* Panel Discussion & Public Consultation
Port-of-Spain International Fashion Centre Initiative
- Woodbrook Fashion Arts & Design District
- East Port-of-Spain Garment Commercial Center
' Sea Lots Sustainable Carnival Costume Production & Garment Manufacturing SEZ Industrial Park

Day 3 Saturday 06, September 2025
Lord Kitchener Auditorium at NAPA Port-of-Spain
7:00 PM

The Grand Finale Top Model Caribbean Competition 2025

For more Styleweek Caribbean info contact Coco Velvet International Fashion Management
Email [email protected]
Tel/WhatsApp 868 620 2316
Follow on Facebook Caribbean Resort Styleweek Port-of-Spain / Top Model Trinidad and Tobago

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Port-of-Spain International Fashion Centre

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