Her debut collection under her brand Kai Baptiste hit the runway at Paris Fashion Week’s World Fashion Expo on March 7, and Saint Lucian designer Petra Baptiste says the event’s success has left her excited for the future.
Featuring ten unique pieces, the collection blended creative full-body designs with intricate tailoring, in which fabrics were etched, cut, tucked, twisted, and fastened into distinct patterns and costumes emblematic of the Caribbean.
Images of her designs have also been added to Getty Images’ archives, a notable achievement for emerging designers. “To see the entire collection recognised and preserved within Getty Images is something I will cherish forever,” Baptiste said. “It means the story behind the work – my culture, my heritage, and my passion for costume design – will continue to be seen and shared around the world.”
Baptiste says beyond the accomplishment, the response to the collection has been notably positive. Having been enthusiastically received during the show, new opportunities may be on the horizon for her Kai Baptiste brand.
“I initially planned to develop the brand gradually, one show per year, [but] the response to the collection may accelerate future projects and collaborations,” she said.
In an interview with St. Lucia Times in January, Baptiste explained that the themes behind her designs included the ocean, carnival, Saint Lucia’s flower festivals, and macramé – a nod to a personal ethos she has carried since leaving Saint Lucia at the age of 18 over two decades ago, to platform Caribbean culture and put it on display unapologetically. That devotion was evident in the multi-coloured designs that hit the runway a few days ago at Les Salons Hoche in Paris.
According to Baptiste, not only will future collections remain on theme by reflecting the region where she was born, but she intends to continue treating fashion design as a vital art form.
“For me, designing costumes is liberating. It allows culture, celebration, and storytelling to come together in a powerful way. I want to continue creating work that makes the Caribbean proud.”
