Through efforts by NICH [National Institute of Culture and History], OAS [Organization of American States] and BELTRAIDE [Belize Trade and Investment Development Services], Belizean Design Week was created to shed light on the raw talent hidden all over the Jewel.
Twelve to fifteen designers signed up for the event, and we were able to view some amazing products on display.
Jackie Castillo, the Creative Industry Development Officer of NICH, told us at the start of yesterday’s event, which was set up for the showcasing of the designers’/artists’ finished products, via the opening ceremony, that each participant was asked to have at least 15-20 pieces out for display.
Castillo told us, “It is important because we hope that a lot of Belizeans would come out and see what we have. Today, we take what we have in intellectual property and we actually put it out on display, so we actually get to see the live art, where everyone gets to see what the artist creates, what the designer is making, they can get to talk to the designers and find out what inspired them to create what they have on display”.
Another important event planner we spoke with was Kim Osborne, who is the Country Representative of OAS. Osborne told us yesterday the reasoning behind her organization’s contribution to this platform and its continued support for Belizean artists/designers.
Osborne said, “We believe very strongly in creating economic opportunities within disadvantaged communities. We believe that a lot of the challenges we face within those communities are because of a lack of opportunities for job creation and for revenue generation, and as such, we look at very small ways we can get women, in particular, involved in developing the creative side, as well as engaging in activities where they can be easily trained, and translating those activities into real economic opportunities for them and their families”.
Amandala spoke with a few very inspirational artists and designers who were standing firmly behind their products and encouraging viewers to question them on their choices and style of designs. One such person was Khadija Assales, a Placencia resident who makes jewelry from beads, stones, shells and other unique materials.
Assales told us that she has been working on her jewelry line for about a year now and that she was inspired to start jewelry making after a trip to Mexico with a friend, who is also a jewelry designer.
“I am just trying to create stuff that can’t be seen everywhere, unique pieces, it motivates me to just do new things that nobody else does,” says Assales.
Assales also told us of the importance of the Belize Design Week event to her and other inspiring artists: “It’s very important because they are shedding light on local hand-crafted products, because a lot of people don’t realize the time and effort we put in to create locally hand-crafted products, so it is really important that they are shedding some light on artisans.”
Assales can be contacted at cell phone #663-0910.
Victor Anthony Caliz, Jr., the founder of Jahta Xtreme, who has been designing and creating fashion wear using mostly denim and khaki fabrics, told us that the fashion week is a necessary platform for Belizean designers and artists alike.
Caliz has been designing clothing for a little over ten years now, and has even participated in the Caribbean Fashion Week, 2010.
“I really love what I do and the people from KREMANDALA loves it, Mose wears it, Evan X Hyde wears it, everybody at KREM yard wears it, or wish they could wear it, everybody wears it,” said Caliz.
Caliz told us that he has been pushing his clothing line all over the world and even divulged a few fashion shows he has lined up, which are in Santa Domingo in September, Las Vegas, Nevada, in October, and Paris and New York. Caliz can be reached at cell phone #669-8243.
The Belize Design Week concludes tomorrow, Friday, with the gala, while tonight, the designers put on a fashion show at the Biltmore Plaza Hotel.