Caribbean to Cobblestone: Bringing International Fashion to New York Fashion Week
By Ella Gallo
On the first day of New York Fashion Week, the grey cobblestone streets of Lower Manhattan burst with vivid colors, and a story of international passion that carried one powerful and inspirational message for the global fashion community. Those storytellers were the four influential voices and expectational talent from this year’s Spring/Summer 2027 Collection by The Caribbean Fashion Collective (CFC). From an embrace of international culture to exciting summer colors, The Collective kicked off this year’s CFDA New York Fashion Week with an astounding collection that showcased cultural jewelry, vibrancy and conceptual creativity.
Photographed l Benson Delaney
The CFC is a nonprofit organization that inclusively provides a spotlight for international Caribbean designers. Comprised of an industry leading team, Founder Xavier Walker and Co-Founders Stewella Deville and Norka Vasquez, work in unison to bring the voices of Caribbean designers to life. The CFC team works tirelessly while interviewing potential Caribbean visionaries that entrust the Collective to help make their visions become a reality. Co-Founders, Deville and Vasquez explained the internal partnership between the team and designers, each collaborating on the same mission, to give back to their culture, heritage and communities.
From versatile denim looks, to exclusive patterned pieces, the four designers presented a collection that was unique to their own personal creativity. Deville expresses that their imaginations may be different, but their message is the same. They are international Caribbean designers. “We are here, we’ve made it and we are not going anywhere” she announced.
“The Caribbean Fashion Collective was never a dream, it was a need to fill a gap. If I can produce a show for a designer and provide publication, why can’t I give that to my own people?” Walker said.
Photographed l Benson Delaney
The relationship between the CFC and Caribbean designers is interwoven, Vasquez explains that part of the Collective’s mission is to work together to show international support. With the agency providing designers with industry experience, they’re able to “open the door to international exposure and global communication,” Vasquez continued. The Caribbean Fashion Collective is much more than a jaw dropping runway, the collective is a movement actively building an unforgettable legacy towards international support. Walker recalls, “you never know where each of our designers can end up, this could be someone’s way out of poverty.”
Having just started in 2024, over the course of two years the CFC has impressively made their mark, showcasing in both the 2025 and 2026 CFDA New York Fashion Weeks. With each collection, the Collective aims to continue to provide a voice, spotlighting Caribbean designers with the proper recognition they deserve. Working closely with internal and external partnerships and communicating with designers, “we are actively putting designer visions onto the runway. We are delivering what we promised them,” Vasquez explained.
Photographed l Benson Delaney
While the three founders are industry-leading visionaries with their own individuality, they find a way to work in sync, under one vision, international advocacy. “When one falls short, the other picks up. We are a team and we are in this together,” Deville explained.
The CFC has, and always will be, an international journey, valued in trust, appreciation and exposure to help provide publications that can continue opening doors to even greater success. The Spring/Summer 2027 Collection not only turned heads with extravagant designs but also breathed life back into the runway. “This is everything. We started something, something good and we are not going anywhere,” Deville proclaimed.
“This is not just a fashion show.
It is a dream transforming into reality!”
Photographed l Benson Delaney
With exceptional style and grace, models across all four designer collections strut through the streets of NYC bringing bold Caribbean designs to the heart of the fashion industry. “By showcasing in New York City, the world gets to know, the world gets to see, Caribbean Fashion is that “it” factor, landing in NYC,” Vasquez shared.
“Regardless of what happens next, even if we die tomorrow. There’s already a footprint in the sand that somebody can help bring on the rest of our legacy,” Walker revealed.
From runway to Caribbean recognition, The Caribbean Fashion Collective unites the global fashion industry under one legacy, international support is everything.
To view the collection pieces, see the creativity in action and get inspired, you can visit @TheCaribbeanFashionCollective on Instagram.
Thank you, Caribbean Fashion Collective. Your recognition is everything.
