She may not be a Caribbean woman but her music, her style, her attitude and her values as a woman of colour, affects Caribbean women across the globe. International recording artiste, Beyonce Knowles continues to impart her knowledge and humility on the rest of us, through her words of wisdom. Giving her acceptance speech upon receiving the Council of Fashion Designer of America (CFDA) Fashion Icon Award on Monday, the R&B mogul acknowledged the strength of her ancestors in shaping the stylish woman she is today.
Beyonce Knowles Carter
For many young women in today’s society, beauty amounts to how many likes and shares a photo posted on social media receives. Taking the podium in New York Beyonce Knowles Carter, the wife of one of Rap music’s finest, Sean ‘Jay Z’ Carter, reminded designers of the power they carry in what they do.
“I want to say thank you to every designer who works tirelessly to make people think they can write their own story. Y’all are fairy godmothers, magicians, sculptors, and sometimes even our therapists. I encourage you to not forget this power you have or to take it lightly. We have the opportunity to contribute to a society where any girl can look at a billboard or magazine cover and see her own reflection. Soul has no color, no shape, no form. Just like all of your work, it goes far beyond what the eye can see. You have the power to change perception, to inspire and empower, and to show people how to embrace their complications, and see the flaws, and the true beauty and strength that’s inside all of us.”
Beyonce Knowles’ hairstylist is Trinidad and Tobago’s Neal Farinah.
The entertainer who’s hairstylist is Trinidad and Tobago born, Neal Farinah, on Monday night, rocked a striped Givenchy suit paired with a broad-brimmed hat. She shared a moving speech, which, in its entirety, reminded the world that when she began in the music and entertainment business, the struggle was real and many elite fashion designers refused to dress she and her fellow Destiny’s Child singers, leaving the task to her mother, Tina Knowles who eventually made a name for herself as a result. Just goes to show- sometimes being humble amounts to even greater successes than one could imagine.
The Caribbean Music Awards, held in Trinidad and Tobago on the weekend presented a mixture of classy detail and down- home, natural vibes and energy, this as the fourth installment of the monumental ceremony came to the Caribbean for the very first time.
A lot stood out on the red carpet on Saturday, September 19th, among it all, the dapper designs worn by Trinidad and Tobago artiste, Yung Bredda, his DJ and friend, DJ Hotty and Manager, Jesse of Optimus Productions.
Yung Bredda with Manager, Jesse John.
Fashion, a major part of any awards ceremony, the trio stepped onto the carpet at the National Academy for the Performing Arts wearing suits, carefully tailored by Trinidad and Tobago menswear designer, Ecliff Elie. In a brief telephone chat with Ebuzztt, Ecliff said the artiste was hands on in the design phase, however they collaborated through dialogue on the color scheme and underlying reason behind every aspect of the creation. “Yung Bredda was very well prepared. He was the only person who came one month ahead of the awards, to ensure his suit was custom designed,” said Elie. He shared that, believe it or not, the entertainer’s spirituality had a lot to do with the colors chosen – emerald green and blue significant in reflecting prosperity. “He also wanted a certain militancy to the design so we used an officer’s mess jacket style, which is a cropped jacket, and we added gold buttons. He essentially designed his suit and we brought it to life,” said the designer.
The young entertainer who won the award for Soca Song of the Year, beating back major Soca artistes like Kees Dieffenthaller, Machel Montano and Bunji Garlin, told Ebuzztt that he was extremely excited to have been nominated for four awards at this year’s event. “It’s a pleasure to represent for my culture and my country every time and it’s a blessing to be here with my DJ as well. We started in Covid time,” he recalled with a smile.
At his side, his manager, Jessie John, was also dressed in a custom made Ecliff Elie tuxedo. According to Elie, the suit channeled rapper, Rick Ross with a velvet necktie and carefully chosen eyewear to enhance the overall look. “For DJ Hotty, we understood that he loves the colour red so we went with a crimson blazer. We held consultations with each of them prior to delivering on their suits. We didn’t force anything on them and we believe that allowing them to have a major part in the design process gives them more self confidence to wear their suits.”
Confident, sleek and charming, the young creatives from humble beginnings showed the youth what’s possible with hard work.
The Caribbean Music Awards, in its 4th years , continued to celebrate the creativity of Caribbean artistes and others in the music industry. The red carpet at NAPA resembled a major International awards show, with Caribbean celebrities taking the time to engage with media and influencers. Yung Bredda said his journey thus far is a testimony to knowing exactly what he wants. “I would tell young people to keep believing, keep dreaming and know what you want. A lot of people don’t know what they want and they see other people doing something and they try to gravitate to that, but you have to know what you want- what you love to do. My manager and my DJ – all of us, we know what we love to do and we’re doing it.”
On Saturday night, Yung Bredda’s custom designed Ecliff Elie suit was emblazoned with a special quote ” I Am That I Am,” on the inside. The initial date of the consultation was also included, as a reminder of the magnitude of the moment. “It was a pleasure working with this team,” said Ecliff. There is no doubt that the trio was perfectly fitted in a Trinidad and Tobago menswear brand that has stood for excellence for many years. It is anticipated that Yung Bredda will be dressed in Ecliff Elie again in the future.
Caribbean fashion is top tier. In a world of copy and paste designs, Caribbean brands like the incomparable Ecliff Elie, stand in a class of their own. Earlier this month, the menswear brand made a major announcement and whether you’ve heard or not, we’re here to tell you, this is huge.
The Ecliff Elie brand will now be delivering its seamless, tailored appeal to women. The brand is known for its precision tailoring and disciplined garment construction so with that at its foundation, women can now feel the complete effect of the Ecliff Elie touch. The company steps out into this aspect of its business after what it says has been years of delivering this service privately to women. Dubbed ‘Bespoke — Tailored for Women,’ Ecliff Elie is now offering the service, at scale.
The introduction reflects a focused extension of Elie’s established approach to tailoring – one built on proportion, control, and consistency. Each garment is developed through a guided process that considers posture, movement, and presence, ensuring that the final result aligns with how the individual operates and presents herself.
From custom blazers to trousers, skirts, and dresses, customers will now be able to get their custom designed Ecliff Elie apparel, through a consultation-led process where every decision—from cut to finish—is deliberate. The company says fabric selection will be approached with the same level of discipline, with materials chosen for structure, performance, and longevity, allowing each piece to maintain its standard over time.
“This is not a new direction,” Elie states. “It is a continuation of work I have done over time, now introduced with structure and clarity.”
With more than three decades of experience, Ecliff Elie has consistently positioned presentation as a defining factor in how individuals are perceived. His work has guided clients across industries to approach style as a matter of precision and intent rather than preference.
“When the garment is correct, everything changes,” he adds. “You move differently. You carry yourself differently. That is the standard.”
As more women continue to operate at the highest levels across business, leadership, and professional environments, the demand for tailoring that reflects both authority and individuality has grown. This offering responds to that shift with a process designed to deliver consistency, clarity, and control.
Through Bespoke — Tailored for Women, Ecliff Elie continues to refine his approach while maintaining a clear focus on craftsmanship, attention to detail, and a disciplined standard of execution.
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