The stage is set to present the 2026 Origins Fashion Festival under the distinguished patronage of the Honorable Susan Rodrigues, minister of Tourism Industry and Commerce, from July 3-5, at the Railway Courtyard, Kingstown, Georgetown, Guyana.
The glamorous event, featuring top international couturiers from the Caribbean and North America, will include evening fashion showcases, a fashion market, pop-up shops, a craft and jewelry village, a food court and bars, creative panels and industry talks, cocktail bars, and designer runway nights.
Brooklyn-based award-winning designer Roger Gary will bring his stunning, colorful Spring/Summer Resort collection to the catwalk. Gary recently presented an AI runway show and his collections were featured at New York’s Seventh on Sixth Fashion week, Caribbean Fashion week in Jamaica, and Summer Sizzle in the British Virgin Islands, among others.
Gary, known for his captivation eveningwear and for dressing many Miss Guyana pageant contestants, told Caribbean Life that he was very excited when he got the call about being invited to this year’s Origins Fashion Festival.
“Showing my collections in Guyana has always been important to me, I’m guessing because it’s where my dreams of becoming a designer all started,” Gary said. “I attended the E. R. Burrowes School of Art under the tutelage of Mr. Dennis Williams. That is where everything about my art and fashion intensified.”
Gary said he started showing his collection in Guyana in the 90s following an invitation from Negla Brandis.
“This time I’ll be showcasing my Resort Spring/Summer 2026 Collection,” Gary explained. “My Inspiration for this collection is about Holly Golightly, the iconic character from the movie Breakfast at Tiffany’s, portrayed by Audrey Hepburn. She embarks on a journey around the world, visiting a few of my favorite places and some on my bucket-list to visit.”
Festival and Design Director Keisha Edwards, sharing ideas for the success of Origins, via a Facebook video, stated, “If Guyana is serious about building its orange economy, then we must be serious about building the people behind it.”
Edwards added: “We created opportunities for designers at every stage of their journey to strengthen both their craft and their businesses. Capacity building remains at the heart of creating a stronger, more sustainable fashion sector.”
The Designer Edge Workshop, Edwards said, was facilitated by fashion designer, educator, and technical designer Alicia Rose, who received her Master of Arts in Carnival Studies degree, in 2021, having conducted groundbreaking research on fashion in Trinidad Carnival costume design.
“These workshops are made possible through the Ministry of Tourism industry and commerce and Origins Guyana Fashion Festival,” said Edwards, a Chevening Scholar, MA Fashion Business Management Creative Director and owner of Shasha Designs.
Origins Secretariat Director Lourdeth Ferguson is excited to be working closely with Minister of Tourism Susan Rodrigues; Keisha Edwards; model coach Keith Allicock; and production director Andrea King on all administrative aspects for a show-stopping festival.
She told Caribbean Life her pivotal role is logistics, making sure that showtime will be a great time for the massive audience. She is inviting to the event. The professional is calling on members of the diaspora across the world, to ‘come home’ and experience what Guyana has to offer in fashion, and festivities.
“The four of us on the team work very closely to make sure that all the preparations are in place. My responsibility is geared towards a seamless, exciting, and enjoyable presentation,” said Ferguson.
