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TOP, CENTRE ROW, LEFT AND CENTRE: Carlos Pinel. OTHER PHOTOGRAPHS: Alexandra Marques for Keny.

   The swimwear–lingerie showcase was the first opportunity we had to judge the design talent presenting their work; and it was not a bad start to the week’s festivities. Anne Pigeon, the creative head of Canada’s Arianne Lingerie recognizes that women plays many different roles in their day-to-day existence and, as such, designs ‘lifestyle lingerie’ to suit every mood or situation.
   A company founded in 1947 and based in the picturesque city of Montréal, Arianne has grown into a competitive internationally known brand with an extensive distribution network that spans North America and the world. Her designs, for the most part, were functional, with whimsical accents to give them that added bit of beauty. The standout pieces in this collection were her pink bodysuit worn over a matching bra and panty set, a delicate black slip with pink trimmings and a black, athletic boy-cut bra and panty set with white lace accents.
   Carmen Belissa, a native Columbian, is the head designer for Beverly Hills Swimwear, a line that is just now catching on throughout the other countries of Latin America. Ms Belissa, a graduate with a fashion design degree from the Universidad Autonoma del Caribe (Independent University of the Caribbean), is an exciting new talent on the swimwear scene, a fact that was backed up by her successful showing in Miami. She has the talent to breathe new life into the genre, infusing into her designs her clear love of colour and the technical know-how to make it all come together very well.
   In this, her latest effort, I found many things to love and celebrate. Her clever mix-and-match efforts definitely added to the success of the whole collection. I thought her pale pink bikini bottom was a nice match to the multi-coloured (but predominantly pink) silk-screen top. Her red bandeau cutout suit with green flower accents was quite delectable; and her two-piece purple graphic print suit was also a standout design. However, my favourite overall design was her candy-striped two-piece set with matching sarong.

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Alexandra Marques’s collection covered the bases on all fronts and was truly one of the better ones shown throughout the whole week