Antigua and Barbuda is poised to break new ground in the global fashion industry this October, as veteran local designer Miranda Askie, founder of MirandaAskieDesigns, prepares to carry the nation’s flag at FabPassionFashionWeekNortheast2026. The landmark bi-annual showcase will run October 23–24 in Springfield, Massachusetts, bringing a distinctly Antiguan creative voice to an international audience.
Now in its sixth iteration, the event is the brainchild of Fashion Gurr, Richie Richardson, and Trinidad and Tobago-based Fab Passion organization, with official endorsement from the City of Springfield. Curated specifically to center designers of African and Caribbean descent, the two-day gathering serves as a launching pad for underrepresented creators to share their unique craft, cultural narratives, and artistic vision with global industry leaders and fashion enthusiasts alike.
The opportunity for Antigua and Barbuda’s participation grew from a collaborative outreach effort, when event organizers reached out to the New York Consulate General of Antigua and Barbuda to explore the nation’s involvement. Recognizing the transformative potential of placing local creative talent on a global stage, Dr. Dave Ray took the lead on identifying an established designer whose professional experience and creative identity aligned perfectly with the event’s mission. After a careful selection process, the choice fell on Miranda Askie, who has already traveled to Springfield alongside her chaperone, finalizing preparations to bring the country’s one-of-a-kind creative spirit to the event’s runway.
A key pillar of this initiative came from local private sector support: POOLWORKS, a newly launched Antiguan company behind the construction of the nation’s first Olympic-standard swimming pool, stepped forward as the official sponsor. Owned by Gert Erick Oesenburg, the firm has generously covered all of Askie’s travel costs, seven days of on-site accommodation, and her full participation fee, removing financial barriers that often prevent emerging and independent regional creators from accessing international opportunities.
In recognition of his instrumental work advancing this partnership, Dr. Dave Ray has been appointed to the event organizing body’s Board of Directors as Diaspora Fashion Ambassador (DFA). His strategic input and guidance to the planning committee have been cited as invaluable to advancing the event’s core goals and strengthening connections with the Caribbean diaspora across North America. The appointment is expected to create long-term pathways for deeper collaboration between Antiguan creative talent, the broader Caribbean diaspora community, and global platforms dedicated to elevating African and Caribbean fashion.
Looking ahead to future editions of the showcase, organizers have announced plans to host a local selection process in Antigua and Barbuda in spring 2025 to identify additional participants for the 2027 event. This ongoing initiative will open new doors for more Antiguan designers to gain critical international exposure, build industry-shaping professional networks, and contribute to the growing global recognition of Caribbean fashion as a leading creative force.
This milestone underscores the critical importance of identifying, nurturing, and promoting local creative talent while building cross-sector partnerships that enable Antiguan creators to compete and collaborate on the global stage. As Askie puts the final touches on her collection ahead of the showcase, the nation is celebrating not only her exceptional talent but also the cross-sector collaboration that made her participation possible.
With backing from POOLWORKS, facilitated by Dr. Dave Ray, and supported by the platform of Fab Passion Fashion Week Northeast, Antigua and Barbuda’s creative industry takes another major step toward expanded international visibility. The nation extends its full support and best wishes to Miranda Askie as she represents Antigua and Barbuda on the global runway, with hopes that her participation will open new opportunities for future creators, inspire emerging local designers, and showcase to the world the unmatched creativity, elegant aesthetic, and rich cultural heritage of Antiguan fashion.