“POWER IS IN ALL WOMEN. MY HOPE IS THAT WHEN WOMEN WEAR MY CLOTHES THEY CAN LEAN INTO THAT POWER” – Fe Noel

Designer Fe Noel wears her Caribbean culture on her sleeves….literally. All of the sleeves on her garments were festooned with frills, puffs, panels and the `fro-fro’ that are very much a part of Caribbean women’s signature, with their gesticulations and even dance moves (hands in de air!!) So when Fe paraded a slew of frothy pant ensembles, slinky tunics and fussy blouses shown during her New York Fashion Week debut, we got it. Even the Calypso soundtrack added to the fierce cultural connection of the collection.

DAUGHTER OF THE SOIL

A short film titled “Daughter of the Soil” shot by noted photographer Itaysha Jordan started the presentation. “She wrapped herself in fabric made by the same hands that prayed for her,” touted the narrative that accompanied the film…”Like the billowing sails on a boat cruising the Caribbean Sea, she is connected yet free. She carries the DNA of her ancestors and is the past, present, and future. Her presence is felt without a word because nostalgia seeps from her pores. Sensual fluid and effortless….” This said it all; the inspiration…the flavor….the vibe. All stated in the film and written in the program notes. It was true Fe Noel.

RESORT REALNESS

This powerful preamble segued into a burst of vivid color on sassy models who brought modern resort realness to Fashion Week. The fruit colors – mango, lime, cherry, oranges all bright and inviting came down the runway with the heat of a campfire on the beach. The cute swimwear in lime green peeked from under a billowing top featuring leg-o-mutton sleeves, loose, flowing trousers in soft stripes and plaids with crop tops, and lots of sheer with voluminous overcoats with big double-puffed sleeves were delightful crowd-pleasers. A one-sleeved crop-top came over a wrapped sarong skirt all in tomato red. Fe’s slinky pajamas with easy duster coats, ideal for beach lounging and hostess duties made up a bulk of this scan and shop collection, which is immediately available for sale. 

FE IN CHARGE

FE recalled as a young kid, her mother who was born in Grenada and migrated to the US, coming home from her clothing factory job with pieces of great fabric. That was her first exposure to fashion as such and fell in love with the craft. She studied, honed her skills and opened a boutique in Brooklyn at the tender age of 19. Fe started her own namesake brand some 8 years ago, and never looked back. She was one of the highlighted Black designers featured and sold in Bloomingdales last summer to celebrate minority fashion brands. 

POWER GUESTS WITNESSED POWER DRESSING 

For her big New York Fashion Week spectacular, Fe’s front row was ignited by a cross-section of media, friends, retail personnel and supporters including the Ambassador for Grenada in the US, KEISHA MC GUIRE and representatives of the Grenada Tourism Board including CHRISTINE NOEL and PATRICIA MAHER CEO, Grenada Tourism Authority. Beyonce’s super-Publicist YVETTE NOEL-SCHURE sat with the Grenada contingent. A few seats down sat fashion legend BETHANN HARDISON and stylist MYSA HILTON. Across the way, perched fellow designer TRACY REESE with `How To Slay’ author CONSTANCE WHITE, Dreamleapers  HARRIETTE COLE and myself. Editor and Project Runway Judge ELAINE WELTEROTH, Television News Anchor JOY REID, and retailer KEVIN HARDER occupied a few seats down. A killer front row, indeed, and what we witnessed was a fiesta of color laced in Caribbean aplomb ~ a show that celebrated the designer’s culture and woman power all the way.