After visiting the John Fernandes Mash Camp and falling in love with the wire-bending and costume creations, Trevor Rose decided, “I’m going to be a designer.” So enthralled was he that he immediately joined that camp and began working. The brazen youth then decided at age 13, when he applied for his passport, to write 'designer' as his occupation. He of course was still at school. After years of sitting at the feet of Fernandes in his Mash Camp, the ambitious youngster is currently living his childhood dream.
On Friday last, as the curtains came down on the 2010 Mashramani activities, which was arguably one of the better events in recent times, Rose edged out fellow designer Olympia Sonaram by two points, to be adjudged 'Designer of the year' for a third time.
He designed for two mega companies Banks DIH and Guyana Power and Light Inc., and both of them came out among the winners.
Banks DIH returned to the route after four years while GPL was a first timer in the float parade. Both companies have no regrets as they won most of the top prizes in the many categories in which they competed.
“I’m happy that I’ve been able to do the companies proud with some quality creations. I am encouraged even further and will always strive for the best in my costume creations. I intend to maintain that level as an inspiration and a motivator to other aspirants,” Rose said
Through the Banks DIH band, he won 'Best King Costume', 'Best full costume large band', 'Best Commercial float', 'Best semi costume large band 'and 'Best designer' in each category.
For his efforts in bringing GPL on the road with a medium full costume band of 120, he placed second in full costume medium and second in the queen costume.
Notable too is the fact that many believe that the PPP would have won a place in the individual King costume category if it had entered, but it did not. Rose was the designer for that costume too, which celebrated the 60th anniversary of the Party.
Last year Rose was 'left in the wilderness' when major companies pulled out of the Mash float parade at the last minute and while some expressed that they admired his quality work they described him as 'a bit excessive, in terms of spending, to deliver the best'.
The 29-year-old celebrating last evening at his Garnett Street office, at a victory party said “I want all the men and women who worked with me to know that this Designer of the year trophy and the other prizes are as a result of your support and efforts too, and I’m happy that you are part of the Facts N Roses family.”
Speaking for those who worked in his camp, he said “they too should be respected, and while I can't pay them enough for their many day and nights of helping me get the work done, I’m believing that a day will come when companies will offer much more money so that they too can be even more encouraged.”


COSTUME CREATION AN EXPENSIVE UNDERTAKING

Rose lost his chance to take a third consecutive title last year when, as indicated, the major companies pulled out.
Some expressed to this reporter that they admired his work but described him as a bit excessive in terms of spending, to put out top class creations.
To this he said “If you compare the finished product of quality and craftsmanship employed, one may understand why the cost would seem expensive, but we only offer the best and the best is costly; material- and workmanship-wise”.
Both he and wife Michelle believe in ensuring “if we are going to create costumes or clothing it must be quality and durable to offer the best impression for our clients; that ripples to their clients, and also represents Guyanese quality at the international level.”
He believes the winning formula for copping the Designer of the year prize is “putting much time into planning and creating concepts then getting the right materials to get the job done, employing the right staff and working to schedules and deadlines to ultimately leave our clients satisfied and among the top brass at prize-giving time”.
Commending the other designers for their creations that added to the making Guyana’s 40th anniversary memorable, Rose said “when it comes to Mashramani my commitment remains to detail, aimed at showcasing that Guyana, too, has what it takes to have quality costumes like at any of the major carnivals”.
The youth who believes that he was destined to be a designer said “I don’t believe that I’m lord of all in costume creations because I’ve won a few prizes, but I do believe that my work offers other designers a benchmark of standards that they should strive for and also surpass in the interest of making Mashramani as colourful, mesmerising and as glamorous as Carnivals around the world”.
He also opined that companies should not wait until the last minute to decide on their participation as it puts a tremendous strain on designers to provide quality and quantity.
“Yes we do aim to make a profit as any business person would, but my camp ensures that the viewing public is mesmerised to the point of talking. Hence the company and the event scenes are taken by word of mouth and through photos, internationally, long after the event is passed, which ultimately means that the festival gets more marketing for the quality and standards offered and Guyana will win in time to come,” Rose stated
Rose's commitment to the designer’s job is permanent to the point that his camp will begin planning possible proposals for Mash 2011 to better the creations of this year and improve on the colour and opulence.
“We hope that businesses will be looking for quality and will not be trading it in for mediocrity because Mash is we ting and we ting needs to get to the level of attracting tourists to come and be part of our festival like they do for carnival”.
He first won the designer of the year title in 2007 with the Digicel band when he created a “Firestorm” and continued in 2008 with Odyssey for Digicel.
Last year, Rose designed for the Amerindian Affairs Ministry, presenting the ‘Lost city of El Dorado’ as well as for the Ministry of Tourism, the Tourism Authority and the National Library.
Rose has been designing costumes since 1994 with Astro-Arts in the John Fernandes Mash camp. He then branched off on his own in 2006 creating the winning formula for Banks DIH. That year he got Best King costume, Best Full costume large band, Best commercial float, band of the year.
This year, too, Rose also created the winning individual costume for his daughter Shanice Rose who won the first prize for the Georgetown leg of the Children’s costume competition.
In 2006, Rose and his wife were the official designers for the Jamaica Carnival creating 1500 costumes for the road. He has also designed many winning costumes for pageants such as Miss Jamzone, Miss Guyana World and Miss Guyana Universe.


By: Mondale Smith

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