Fashion and food have shared the table in Trinidad and Tobago over the past week. The first edition of The Fashion Plate, a collaboration between Global Trinidad & Tobago (GlobalTT) and Trinidad & Tobago Restaurant Week (TTRW), took local designers out of the usual runway setting and into restaurants. It closes with a Grand Finale at Hyatt Regency Trinidad on October 9 at 8 p.m.
The Fashion Plate opened on September 29 at Rhythms “N” Brews in Gulf City. The first showcase featured designers RackPDH and SMWarner artwithattitude. A series of Fashion Show Capsules followed at participating restaurants across the country. One of them, at House of Jaipur, presented designs by Lisa Faye Silks and House of Jaipur, along with accessories from Metah Designs and Ellimac Trinidad. Patrons, designers and participating businesses have responded positively, according to GlobalTT.
In Trinidad, the venues were Hyatt Regency Trinidad, House of Jaipur, The Alley, Samurai Restaurant and Kazza Pot and Kettle. In Tobago, they were La Fountain and Sugarbird Terrace. Designers and brands showcased included Photosynthesis Designs, Sukha Jewellery, Nedra Waldron, Shaun Griffith Perez, Kootis, Os2 Designs, Valrea’s Designs, Kimo, Bene Caribe, Ade, Andrew John Smith, Donna La Roche, Lisa Faye Silks, Metah Jewellery, Ellimac, Richard Noel, LOUD by Afiya and Nadroj.
The initiative is part of GlobalTT’s wider effort to create opportunities for the local fashion industry by linking designers with new audiences, commercial platforms and potential markets. Placing fashion in restaurants and other social spaces gave diners an accessible, hands-on way to discover local designers.
“The response to The Fashion Plate has been incredibly encouraging. We wanted to create something that would allow people to experience fashion differently, while also creating opportunities for our designers and businesses to benefit from each other,” said Lisa Marie Daniel, General Manager, Fashion, GlobalTT. “Fashion and food are both powerful expressions of our culture, creativity and identity. Bringing them together has shown us what is possible when our creative industries collaborate and create new experiences for audiences.”
GlobalTT says the initiative gave designers greater visibility, direct engagement with consumers and a chance to explore new commercial settings. Participating restaurants, for their part, were able to add local creativity to the dining experience.
Shira Mohammed, Founder of Trinidad & Tobago Restaurant Week, said the partnership enriched this year’s edition of the event. “Our partnership with GlobalTT added an extra touch of flair to TTRW 2026, making the entire experience even more memorable,” she said. “The Fashion Plate created a wonderful opportunity to bring two vibrant parts of our culture together and give audiences something new to experience.”
GlobalTT also thanked the sponsors who helped make the event possible: Brian Matthew of Interface PR, Natifa Alexander of Caribe Fashion Specialist, Tricia Beckles, Manager of the Strategic Business Development Unit at the Tobago House of Assembly, and Richard Young.
The Grand Finale will bring local designers together with food and fashion enthusiasts for a showcase marking the collaboration’s success. Organisers say it will give local fashion a larger stage and show what can happen when the fashion, hospitality and culinary sectors work together