Bahamas? First Lady gives nod to local fashion designer

Fri, Apr 26th 2013, 06:00 PM

Bahamas’ First Lady gives nod to local fashion designer

Fresh off of his win in the first challenge on Mission Catwalk, Season Three, local fashion designer Theodore Elyett is getting a fashion nod from arguably one of the country's biggest trend setters and fashion mavens, the Bahamian Prime Minister's wife, Mrs. Bernadette Christie.

Elyett's winning design—a casual dress which captures the beauty of a Caribbean sunset—instantly became a favorite in the regional and local fashion spheres after the April 13 challenge win. As a part of his win, six to eight pieces of the design were reproduced for sale in Lee's Fifth Avenue in Jamaica. But on Tuesday April 23, 2013, that breathtaking design made its way to Bahamian shores as Elyett made a special presentation of a custom-made dress to Mrs. Christie.

"While my winning design featured a warmer palette, I wanted to make a special gown for Mrs. Christie that definitely said "spring is here!" When I approached Mrs. Christie with the idea to gift her a custom made replica of the original piece, she was quite receptive to the idea and that was quite encouraging,” Elyett said.

Oftentimes twirling in the gown made just for her, Mrs. Christie said she is more than honored to be presented with her very own Theodore Elyett piece.

“Let me first congratulate him because he is such a talented young designer,” Mrs. Christie beamed. “I'm actually privileged to be able to wear one of his designs. People like him will take The Bahamas to the next level in fashion design.

“It's also good that we can find it here in The Bahamas. Sometimes we have great fashion designers but there's nowhere to go and buy their clothes.”



In addition to being a local fashion designer with the opportunity to dress a revered Bahamian fashionista, Elyett is also scoring big on the retail racks. A small capsule collection of the winning design will be hitting the retail racks and will be available for purchase this summer at the Tanya Saunders Retail Boutique at the British Colonial Hilton Hotel – a first for the Theodore Elyett brand.

"We plan to launch it at the end of June or mid-July,” Elyett adds. “It will be six to eight pieces of the exact design but different fabrication.”

Boutique owner Tanya Saunders says she's delighted to bring a slice of the Theodore Elyett brand to her racks. “The thing I like about Theo's work is that it combines a Bahamian sense of style, but it also is quite European at the same time,” Saunders adds. “His skills are amazing so I‟m really excited to be carrying his stuff.

In less than one month, the Theodore Elyett brand has scored many firsts; first Bahamian to be cast in Mission Catwalk, won the first challenge in the first episode, first designer from The Bahamas in Mission Catwalk to be retailed in Jamaica, first time the brand will be retailed at home.

“I definitely believe these achievements on behalf of The Bahamas and the brand Theodore Elyett are a step in the right direction for fashion in The Bahamas,” he adds. “When you look at regional countries like Trinidad and Tobago their fashion industry is booming, when you look at Jamaica, they used to manufacture for major designer labels around the world.

“So I feel this is an awesome momentum for The Bahamas and the Bahamian fashion industry to begin to make its mark within the region.”

Mission Catwalk airs every Saturday at 9:30 p.m. and again each Wednesday at 8:30 p.m. on Cable 12. Or you can watch on Youtube.com.

Click HERE to follow the designer on Facebook.

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