In its four years of existence, Fashion Week Trinidad & Tobago (FWTT) has become a standing-room-only event. Showcasing the creativity of local designers, FWTT is the only local forum for designers, upcoming and established, to present their designs in a professional setting.

Established in 2008, FWTT is a concept that has been decades in the making. Its establishment comes at a time when fashion as a local industry is beginning to gather momentum, with fashion degrees now being offered at the University of Trinidad & Tobago and the formation of the Fashion Association of Trinidad & Tobago to promote the industry.

In its first year, the event was held under a tent at Adam Smith Square in Woodbrook in similar style to the prominent New York Fashion Week. In 2009, the event moved to the prestigious Hyatt Regency Trinidad on the redeveloped waterfront, where it stayed for the Trinidad leg.

The week-long affair attracted Trinidad’s glitterati: beauty queens, sports personalities, soca stars and prominent members of the business community.

In 2009, the event saw the return to the ramp of designers such as Sonia Mack and introduced soca star Machel Montano as a designer with his children’s line Boy Boy. Regional designers are also a part of FWTT, using the forum to boost their profile in the lucrative Trinidad market.

The 2010 edition, under the patronage of then newly elected Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar, saw the event showcase some 50 designers, and 40 from Trinidad & Tobago – the largest ever number of local participants featured in their own country in a regional fashion show. Seven runway shows were hosted, with five in Trinidad and two – for the first time – in Tobago. The 2010 edition also introduced a buyer’s gallery and a series of seminars to help promote the local and regional fashion industry.

Designers featured original works under the following themes: Caribbean Cutting Edge, Cosquelle Swimwear, Nouveau Caribbean, New World Style and Haute Caribbean. The 2010 event debut in Pigeon Point, Tobago, hosting events on the sister island for the first time. The Tobago leg featured resort wear, swimsuits and collections exclusive to the Tobago shows. It even featured Tobago's traditional Moriah Wedding as part of the festivities. The Festival also featured designers showing for the first time in Trinidad & Tobago, including swimwear designer Johnny Vincent, who has produced pieces for Rihanna.

Unfortunately, after initially being postponed from May to September, Fashion Week was cancelled in 2011 due to difficult economic and socio-political conditions. Particularly after the success and boost to the local industry following former Miss Trinidad & Tobago Anya Ayoung Chee's winning the US television series Project Runway in 2011, we look forward to its return in 2012 and to the continued growth of Trinidad & Tobago's vibrant fashion industry.