In an extraordinary turn of events, Caribbean cultural advocate Petra Baptiste has transformed a planned year of rest into a groundbreaking achievement: an official showcase at Paris Fashion Week. The Saint Lucia-born creative, who initially sought respite from her ambitious pursuits in January 2025, will now present her inaugural collection at Les Salons Hoche on March 2nd under her new fashion house Kai Baptiste.
Baptiste’s journey to fashion’s most prestigious platform began decades ago when she left Saint Lucia for London at 18, later accepting a spontaneous invitation to Paris where she noticed a significant absence of Caribbean representation. This observation inspired her to establish Island Empress & Emperor, a platform dedicated to highlighting Caribbean creatives—though she never anticipated its evolution into a full-fledged fashion rebirth.
Despite her multifaceted career as an English teacher, book reviewer, and social media manager, Baptiste consistently felt her creative aspirations remained unfulfilled. ‘I was doing a lot but it wasn’t bringing me joy,’ she confessed to St. Lucia Times. Her attempts to break into fashion had previously stalled due to lacking industry connections.
The breakthrough emerged from what Baptiste describes as a ‘spiritual stillness’ following her decision to step back from relentless ambition. During a March 2025 fashion show, she casually remarked to a friend about her capability to create runway-worthy designs—a comment she initially dismissed. Seven months later, under identical circumstances, her friend Vilma responded decisively: ‘Stop saying that you can do it, and let’s do it.’ Within an hour, Baptiste received contact details for an industry insider, leading to her official Paris Fashion Week acceptance.
Her collection represents a profound celebration of Caribbean identity through meticulously crafted costumes that transcend conventional ‘dress and pants’ formats. Drawing inspiration from the ocean, carnival traditions, Saint Lucia’s flower festivals, and Macramé techniques, Baptiste’s designs feature vibrant colors, diverse textures, and materials that authentically reflect Caribbean cultural richness.
‘My pieces depict different aspects of what makes the Caribbean the Caribbean and a place so loved,’ Baptiste explained. This milestone has catalyzed an exciting 2026 calendar of confidential projects, all guaranteed to incorporate emblems of Caribbean life and heritage, marking both a personal and professional renaissance for the determined visionary.
