Sustainability, But Make It Caribbean: Carnival, Couture & Climate Consciousness

By Cherisse Singh – CS FAB Forum Fashion & Beauty Editor

Darling, if fashion had a conscience—and a waistline to whine—it would look like the Caribbean right now: radiant, resilient, and ready to slay sustainably. We’re not just weaving style into our seams—we’re stitching together a movement, one recycled thread at a time.

And honey, the Caribbean showed up and showed out in back-to-back eco-fabulous fashion moments that had the region buzzing louder than a steelpan at sunrise.

From the Runway to the Revolution

First up, the @bcrc.caribbean Sustainable Fashion Show, helmed by the ever-iconic @richard_a_g_young, was a full-blown fashion flex with a purpose. This wasn’t just a runway—it was a runway revolution, where bold, brilliant, and unapologetically Caribbean designers delivered lewks with a message.

Think upcycled denim turned couture. Seaweed-based textiles. Plant-dyed silks that swayed like coconut palms. Each design walked the line between art and activism, reminding us all: the Caribbean doesn’t chase trends—we create legacies.

Carnival—But Make It Eco-Chic

Then on Monday, July 28th, 2028, the fashion flames only burned brighter as Trinidad & Tobago officially launched the GEF 11176 Project at the Hilton Trinidad Conference Center. Fancy name? Yes. But trust—it’s doing the real work: eliminating hazardous chemicals from our fashion supply chains and leading a greener, cleaner Carnival revolution.

With opening remarks from the GEF, UNEP, EMA, and the unstoppable force that is BCRC-Caribbean, this wasn’t your typical dusty policy rollout. It was a full-bodied call to action, with glitter, feathers, and a whole lot of sustainability.

Enter the scene-stealing "Wear the Change" fashion show—curated again by Richard Young, because of course it was. Picture biodegradable feathers. Recycled plastic masquerade pieces. Bejeweled bodysuits made from bottle caps and brilliance. The models didn’t just walk. They made sustainability strut.

Craftsmanship in Our DNA

Let’s get real for a sec. Climate change is coming for our coastlines. Microplastics are invading our oceans. Fast fashion is dumping synthetic sadness into our landfills. And still, the Caribbean remains one of the most vulnerable yet least responsible regions for the global mess we’re in. So what do we do? We innovate. We upcycle. We glow up responsibly.

This is the land where Granny’s curtain lace became a Sunday best. Where carnival artisans turn scraps into showstoppers. Where resourcefulness is second nature, not a niche.

So yes, sustainability isn’t just a trend here—it’s cultural muscle memory. We’ve been doing it long before hashtags and carbon offsets. And now? We’re taking that heritage to the global runway.

Ministry of Fierce Commitments

The moment wasn’t complete without a powerful address from Dr. the Honourable Kennedy Swaratsingh, Minister of Planning, Economic Affairs and Development. And trust—he did not come to play. He made it crystal clear: sustainability is not optional. It’s the only path forward if we want to keep our tropical paradise intact.

His words were more than policy—they were passion. A national commitment to circular economy practices, to innovation in Carnival production, and to backing the designers turning trash into treasure.

Not Just a Moment—A Movement

Between both events, one truth rang louder than a riddim section at J’ouvert: the Caribbean is uniquely poised to lead the global sustainable fashion revolution. And we’ll do it the only way we know how—with sass, soul, and a whole lot of sequins.

To the dream team of partners—GEF, UNEP, Ministry of Planning, BCRC-Caribbean—we salute you for making this vision real. And to our new-gen designers? Baby, you are the blueprint.

This isn’t just the future of fashion. This is the future of the Caribbean.

#SustainableAndSassy #WearTheChange #UpcycleYourMas #CaribbeanFashion #ClimateConsciousCouture #SustainableTT #Innovation #EcoChicCarnival #CarnivalGoesGreen #IslandSustainability #CSFABApproved

Miss Environment Trinidad and Tobago,

Rebecca Baptiste