Caribbean Fashion

Ladies and gentlemen, final boarding call. In a moment the flight from Paris to Pointe à Pitre will take-off. And to celebrate its 9th year anniversary, the airline has a surprise lined up: a fashion runway show. But not just any fashion, Caribbean fashion! Why organize a catwalk 32,000 feet in the air?
The passengers are delighted. The models, stiffly, move in the narrow aisle. But what is the purpose behind the show?
Caribbean fashion is tied to the history of the slave trade, colonization, and African roots. But it is moving beyond storytelling.
Creole garb... It is at the heart of all Caribbean clothing creation.
Jean Marc Benoît grew up with his two dressmaking grandmothers. Using an old Singer machine, they worked with madras and English embroidery to create unique designs. Jean Marc studied visual arts, art history and took classes at a top fashion school in Paris. Today he’s settled down in Guadeloupe.
Another of the 10 stylists invited... Ochun. She shares her name with the goddess of beauty in the afro-cuban religion Santeria.
Despite hard economic times and competition from low-end European brands, the Caribbean market remains dynamic with a strong identity. Its set to take its place on the international scene.