Caribbean Export Implementation Report 2017-2020

FASHION In 2015, Caribbean Export commissioned research on the fashion industry, which highlighted a need for considerable expansion into foreignmarkets because of small and decreasing local demand. The research also revealed the challenges that CARIFORUM fashion designers face in exporting, namely a lack of networking or contacts; inadequate support services (e.g.: shipping, insurance, packaging, and supply of rawmaterials); a lack of knowledge and skills on exporting; and a lack of market information. In response, the Agency facilitated the participation of regional designers in various international fashion shows (such as the 2018 International Fashion Fair as outlined in the Export Promotion: Trade Expos and Conferences section), webinars (such as the three fashion webinars within the Talking Exports Webinar Series) and accelerators that included the launch of the Caribbean Fashion Showroom. Given that the international fashion shows and fashion webinars were addressed in other sections, this section will focus on the fashion accelerators.

FASHION & CONTEMPORARY DESIGN ACCELERATOR

Caribbean Export executed a Fashion Accelerator, in collaboration with the CDB, the National Cultural Foundation (NCF) of Barbados, Invest SVG, and the Caribbean Market Centre. The Accelerator sought to prepare designers for the international market in all technical and business areas and facilitate the implementation of a ‘go-to-market’ strategy. The project was divided into four phases during this Accelerator’s implementation. Phase one involved a ten (10) day capacity building workshop/boot camp held in May 2019 in Trinidad and Tobago. The objectives of the boot camp were to assist participants in standardising products and creating specifications; finalising packaging; conducting further research and development; building capacity; modernising and improving

products and processes; effective display and marketing of products; accessing new markets; and developing export plans. Nineteen (19) designers from CARIFORUM and the OCTs benefitted from phase one of the Fashion Accelerator.

These designers were from

Counter clockwise Antigua and Barbuda (1) , Barbados (2) , Dominica (1) , Grenada (2) , Guyana (1) , Haiti (1) , Jamaica (4) , Saint Lucia (1) , St. Vincent and the Grenadines (2) , Tortola, British Virgin Islands (1) , and Trinidad and Tobago (3) .

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