IslandEffect

 "SLTB Clears the air on Hot Couture"

 In an article published in our local paper "The Star' who have the motto "Bringing the Truth To Light" it was claimed that the SLTB cleared the air on the Hot Couture issue - as a professional designer in touch with many others of the designers and some of the models involved, I can categorically confirm that the "air" remains so thick with smoke it is almost unbreatheable.

Here is part if the article - I stopped the clip at the end of the paragraph that really began to upset me - I am one of those in the conversation on FB, therefore, the writer has called me a 'Facebook loser' - to which I take an offence 

Please take a read, so you can get an idea of the level of disregard and disrespect persons (not just designers and creatives, but very much so, our professions) are given in St. Lucia when they dare to claim things were not done as they should be.

From left: Public Relations Manager of the St Lucia Tourist Board John Emmanuel, Deputy Tourism director Tracey Warner Arnold and SLTB Director Louis Lewis.

In a way, some who seemed hell-bent on icing “Hot Couture” merely ended up making it the main focus of the local tourist board’s rebranded Saint Lucia Jazz & Arts Festival, more talked about online and on the ground than even R. Kelly’s out-of-this-world performance. More proof that there’s no such thing as bad publicity when it comes to showbiz.
The inescapable irony is that there is no disagreement when it comes to the quality of the production, the first of its kind in Saint Lucia. So what does it matter that there were the inevitable artistic disagreements? It happens whenever talents come together for a project. That is why even the most spectacularly successful events always hold post-mortems in the best interests of future productions. Too bad, judging by what is now common knowledge, Hot Couture suffered tongue lashings from the most unexpected quarter—even before the first model audition. As for what followed the most successful event, clearly the problem was an insatiable ego that sought to demean everyone else involved, from Adrian Augier to the Tourist Board (collectively and individually!) to the show’s producer Mae Wayne.
Rightly, they ignored most of the comments or dismissed them as the rantings of an ego maniac and fodder for Facebook losers for whom there is only one side to a story: the one that appeals to them most.

.... read rest of article and reader comments here

I will post my comment that I made on the Star website here also, it is still awaiting moderation at this time, so probably can't be seen there

""Rightly, they ignored most of the comments or dismissed them as the rantings of an ego maniac and fodder for Facebook losers for whom there is only one side to a story: the one that appeals to them most."
tThis article blatantly tells 'only one side of the story' and I would like to note, that I do not consider myself a 'facebook loser' and am quite sure that my professional peers do not either - this is assassinating my character.
If the practice is to hold 'post mortems' then why has none been held with ALL PARTIES involved in this event instead of just one side of the opinions being taken into account by SLTB?
If the intent of SLTB was 'from the get go' to have 'all st; lucian' talent - then why was the Textile Coop TICSL nor the Creative Development Network not contacted 'from the get go'? TICSL requested a meeting with SLTB and had it in November 2013 making suggestions to them about how Fashion could be incorporated - yet they were not involved or invited 'from the get go', only after McDoom came in - The SLTB knows exactly how to contact me for sure - I email them off and on about my feelings on the arts in Jazz (which are largely not positive on how we are 'facilitated' and not given suitable arrangements) but I got involved at the invite of a local designer.
I attended the trunk show and sold only to my friends who I had invited - I saw a few hotel guests and one buyer from Martinique who was with another friend of mine.
Finally, dismissing the differences as just those that are 'normal' between creatives?!? What a load of crap. We are professionals who have genuine issues with parts of the event. The fact that a good show was put on on the night is great, but it DOES NOT mean that there were many things that could have and perhaps should have been done differently and so far - no post mortem has been held
There NEEDS to be a post mortem on this event where ALL opinions of ALL of the PROFESSIONALS - those with big egos and all can be openly heard." Finola Prescott

Handpainted Silk by Lyn Bristol of LBM Designs, St. Lucia, Jewelry by Finola Prescott of Island Effect, St. Lucia