Roger Gary, Facts and Roses team up for fashion 'xpo'

New York-based Guyanese designer/producer Roger Gary and the Facts and Roses husband and wife team Trevor Rose and Michelle Cole-Rose are the brains behind next Easter's Guyana Fashion Xpo (GFX).

The three well-known designers, who were conspicuously absent from last month's Guyana Fashion Weekend, plan to make a bold statement with this event, which they say will be an annual one. It is billed for the Easter weekend at Splashmin's Resort, which in recent years has been host to the Miss Guyana Universe Pageant.

According to a statement from the organizers, they also plan to use the Demerara Harbour Bridge as the "world's longest runway" as part of the promotional package for the GFX. The organizers say they foresee 100 male and female models beginning their catwalk strut on the West Demerara and modelling their way across the 1.25 miles bridge to culminate on the East Demerara. "Plans are in motion," they say, "for a representative of the Guinness Book of Records to be present so that the event can be officially recorded."

Meanwhile, as regards the main event, the organizers say there will be a specially constructed 80 ft catwalk at Splashmin's. "Designers will present their collections on a casted array of local, regional and international models strutting on the spectacular GFX 80 ft. long runway, especially created for the affair and which features a natural fresh waterfall backdrop."

Running conjointly with the runway segment, will be the GFX Fashion Boutique, offering opportunities to display and sell a wide variety of designer merchandise. The local, regional and international press will be on hand to capture the event, the release said.

The organizers said GFX had a successful preview at the Umana Yana in March (during Cricket World Cup) and was expected to highlight "the talent and skills of designers, models, stylists, hair and make-up artists, creating a sizzling weekend of fashion unparalleled in the southern Caribbean." It is expected that whilst the event would bring businesses and services ancillary to the industry from Guyana and the region together, it will also serve to propel Guyana as the region's new fashion and manufacturing hub.

"Set against the backdrop of its lush rainforest, ma-jestic rivers, soothing lakes, natural wildlife and an eco-friendly environment, Guyana will showcase its culture and style to the world as it plays host to the first annual Guy-ana Fashion Xpo," the release said.

Source: Stabroek News