Indian High Commissioner Malay Mishra says the invitation extended to Brian Mc Farlane, recipient of the Chaconia Gold Medal for Culture, was an attempt to bring the fashion industry of T&T and India closer.Mishra made this comment at a press conference at the Indian High Commission, Victoria Avenue, Port-of-Spain, on Tuesday.
Mc Farlane is expected to visit Delhi and other parts of India to interact with textile manufacturers.The exhibition, entitled Cloths of Power, takes place from September 23 to 30 across India.Mishra said: "Twenty member-countries will be taking part. It will feature textiles worn by celebrities, including Mahatma Ghandi and Queen Victoria.
India is deeply privileged to showcase these Caribbean designs.
"It is a field of interaction. There will be fashion designing and technology exchange." Mc Farlane said: "I am humbled to be invited to do this exhibition of Cloths of India. I am excited to be holding this position to represent T&T. I feel honoured."
He said he would also be giving talks on "all the elements of J'Ouvert." He said he would take two traditional mas characters–a Trinidad Blue Devil and Pierrot–for display."I would be leaving the exotic Blue Devil there as a permanent fixture," he added.
Mc Farlane also made reference to his band, Boyie: The Story of India, which showcased facets of the East Indian experience in T&T.
He will be accompanied by his assistant Maurice Chevalier.