Krik! Krak! Catwalk!

When people think of Caribbean fashion, they think of sarongs, layers of kente cloth, and those netted tanks that drape the “Dexter” rasta men of Jamaica. But Phelicia Dell of VeVe Collections has something else in mind: rich, colorful, hand-sewn sequin messenger bags; dreamy waist bags; and oversize jean handbags that have a Betsey Johnson-esque eccentricity, while still conveying the storytelling magic of her Haitian heritage. How do we know it’s good? Dell won the best emerging handbag designer award at this year’s Diane von Furstenberg global handbag design competition.

And this Friday at 7 p.m., the Caribbean American Visual Cultural Preservation (CAVCP) will unveil the first annual Caribbean Catwalk at the Little Haiti Cultural Center, and Dell will be the featured designer. "Phelicia's VeVe bags shine a bright and positive light at our culture,” says Tamara Philippeaux, CAVCP board member and executive producer at Island TV. The free event will feature Haitian roots jazz by Kari Roots, Haitian gastronomical delicacies, and a cash bar. Other collections will include a mélange of beautiful, yogi-esque Haitian sandals by SaChé Creations and a jewelry display by Savannah Savary, whose designs reflect her Lebanese and Haitian heritage.
Fri., Nov. 6, 7 p.m., 2009