According to the organisers, the focus of Export the Runway is to provide an avenue through which local designers and producers can receive unfettered access to international markets and scouts.

Chief Executive Officer of Export Saint Lucia, Sunita Daniel, says the last two iterations of the show have produced positive results for participants and anticipates the same for this year.

“For us, the fashion industry is one of those we've not really done a lot of work in before. We've been seeing a lot of traction coming from Export the Runway in terms of the designers now getting an opportunity to get into the hotel gift shops, for example. More people are buying local designers, and what we really want to see is a lot more Saint Lucians wearing local designs to the carnival shows, for example,” she explained.

The designers this year are:

Christine Samuel - Christy Creations                                     

Marshall Celestin - NGU Clothing

Sheena Xavier - Ti Kay Bouton

Myrkida Harris - Ventura

Kershie Abraham - Emma Dolls

Lisa Barton- Volney - De Kloze Line

Rose and Victor Lascaris - Rafferty Inc

Tamla Lionel - Luxatoire

Sharleen Lagon - Jaelyu

Sharon Tanner - Sharon Tanner Creative Solutions

Helena Isaac

Perry Martial - Perry’s Bags

Lanadeene Rene - Landeene

Anselm Mathurin - Calabash Wear