IFA Fusion Fashion Show daring, different at Bedrock

With their theme “Be daring, be different, be impractical, be anything that will assert integrity of purpose and imaginative vision against the play-it-safers,{{more}} the creatures of the commonplace, the slaves of the ordinary”, three young persons set out to take the fashion industry to another level.

On Saturday, March 24, 2012, the Iconic Fashion Agency (IFA) hosted a show dubbed the Fusion Fashion Show, which saw displays from young designers throughout St.Vincent and the Grenadines. Bedrock was transformed into the fashion venue for all fashion lovers, with various displays of clothing lines and accessories from Brenda Mc Intosh Iroha of Afrobbean designs, Iasha Horne of Ijazz Creationz, Julesia Alexander of PixieJ Designs, Latoya Clarke, and Bequia’s own Shari Osborne and Rhonelle Simmons.

The IFA is a fresh, hip, energetic and dynamic group founded in June 2011 by Fashion designer Rhonelle Simmons, Model Emron Hercules and Jewelry designer Shari Osborne. Simmons, who has always had a ‘knack for style’, has participated in numerous shows in St .Vincent and in Canouan. She recalled being obsessed with fashion from a very young age, an interest that developed naturally; and she soon realized that while she loved performing arts, her true passion was fashion.

Simmons launched a new and exciting line of clothing and bags, while Osborne officially launched her jewelry line of Wädäda Beads. She said that at a young age, she spent hours deconstructing vintage jewelry, and that’s when she realized that she had a fetish for beads. Osborne said the concept behind her line is to create fashion-forward designs with high quality construction.

The audience definitely was not a bit disappointed with their designs, but rose with shouts and applause as each model came out in turn.

The lone male designer in the show Emron Hercules displayed his design of a dress described as ‘The Show Stopper’, which resulted in excitement and loud cheers and applause from the audience. The show also saw performances from Shockout Dancers, Local entertainer Romone Farrell, Cassava Academy Dancers, and Soca artiste Tamisha Nicholls.

Both Simmons and Osborne, with their goal and motto as “Fashion Icons of tomorrow, putting Bequia on the fashion map” assured persons that they would be taking this fashion show to another level next year. They are hoping to make it an annual event.