Island People Pics

Let me just say, hats off to Island People, the costumes lived up to all the rumours that were circulating before the launch, they are breathtakingly beautiful....even though the launch party itself was another story, and another post, these costumes made waiting two hours worth it.

We took over 300 pics and as per my request with TRIBE's pics, please don't steal my photos or post them up on another website.Direct people to this blog to view the pics, thanks!

Here is a look at Island People's Sahara ( click on pics to make them bigger).

I have much more photos which you can see at my album on Photobucket.

Jewel of the Nile








Taureg







Sirocco Winds






Le Soleil Brule








Mirage






Goddess and Defenders






Sacred Sand






Raiders of the Desert






Oasis






Cacti






Nubians






Sahara Sunset






Arabian Nights












Sahara Jumbie

Close up of Costumes

Since I did not take any photos myself at the mas camp per the wishes of TRIBE, I was very surprised to receive these photos in my email. Thank you to the reader of my blog who wanted me to share these photos, good work! (click on the photos to make them bigger)

DAME LORRAINE















FIREMAN




BAT


JAB MOLASSIE


FANCY SAILOR


JAB JAB










PIERROT GRENADE






IMP






DRAGON




JAMETTE




MAJORETTE




WARRIOR SPIRIT




FANCY INDIAN





COW MAS




MIDNIGHT ROBBER




I see in the close up of some photos that ear-rings are included in the costume, one less thing to buy!Now if only they would thrown in a free pair of mas stockings I think that would make the complete package.

Poll Results

Saturdays are usually pretty busy for me as it's my official housework/errands/shopping day, so I just checked my TRIBE poll and here are the results so far:

Dragon 23 votes

Fireman 20 votes

Fancy Indian/Jamette/Fancy Sailor 10 Votes

I see the skimpiest costume is #1 and it dawned on me today as I was trying to find something to wear tomorrow that I need to start my diet and exercise regime as soon as possible. Every year I say I am going to start early but I end up on a Cabbage soup diet or Atkins like a month before Carnival with a purge thrown in days before Carnival Monday for good measure.

This year I plan on loosing weight and doing my cardio/weight training gradually over the next six months, the healthy way. I promise as soon as I register for a costume I am going to sign up at the gym the same day! Atkins works pretty well for me, but I am thinking of doing the South Beach diet with some modifications, as I don't want to cut out carbs completely (I am a carb addict!).

Let me know how you guys plan on loosing weight or getting in shape for Carnival, what works and what does not. For serious mas players you know it's not only about looking good, it's also about having the stamina to make it from sunup to sundown on Carnival Monday and Tuesday.

Mas News

On the heels of Island People's launch I was hoping for a sneak peek of the costumes, but all I have found is another gallery with photos from TRIBE's launch at Triniscene.

Today's Trinidad Guardian has a small write up on Pulse 8 and their upcoming launch:

Meg Cheekes (former communications officer of the big band Poison) and the new Pulse8 Carnival band will show off their 2007 costume line: Cocktails—You Shake, We Stir!—at Club Zen on September 3.

Kicking off in grand style and much fanfare Pulse8 comprises a collection of former prominent Poison core members, including Cat & Friends; Cheek 2 Cheek; D’Coco Crew; Funstation4; Joanne Fox; La Dolce Vita; Sonia Marcano; DJ Wendell; Dalvin Harris and Ulric Miller. Section partners include Bamabac, Nelly’s Posse and Claudia Pegus. Led by Cheekes, the band’s exclusive media launch is set to unveil a new “collective order” in Carnival.

In a release this week, the management of Pulse8 vowed to present fresh perspectives in design and creativity with a focus on maintaining its commitment to the needs of masqueraders and providing an improved and unforgettable carnival experience by keeping a controllable-sized band, while promoting “fun” as the heartbeat of the festivities.

Possessing over 16 years experience in the Carnival industry, Cheekes is confident that her move is “right on time” and her efforts to highlight and embrace the beauty and spirit of T&T Carnival makes Pulse8 the number one choice for C2K7 offering “more mas, more fun!”

She said this week with all confidence: “While others still try to emulate, Pulse8 steps out on faith; this band can’t wait to shake it up and stimulate. Honouring the past by recognising the future, Pulse8 the new generation, continues the legacy—young, vibrant and fiery.

“Like ‘Bad Boys’ we comin, what yuh’ gonna do?’ Gyrate with Pulse8 at a carnival near you.”

Venue: Club Zen,

Keate Street, POS, T&T.

Date: September 3.

Doors open at 5 pm, showtime 8 pm.
©2005-2006 Trinidad Publishing Company Limited

I also found out that the Dream Team is having their launch on September 17th, more details to follow when I find out where, how much etc.

As for the other Mas Bands in Trinidad, some which may not be as well known or popular as others, I have no information on when/if they are having a launch but I do know what some of the presentations are for 2007 Carnival:

2 Ha' Quai A Sailor’s Tale

Brian MacFarlane India

Genesis In the name of Troy

Legacy Hiawatha

Masquerade Golden Heritage...a Tribute to Mas

Trevor Wallace & Associates Mackie on the Catwalk

Trini Revellers The French Revolution


And finally Harts' website is STILL saying "coming soon", the last information I got from the mas camp was that the new site should be up by "the end of the week" meaning end of this week. It has been two weeks since their launch, registration is open at the mas camp but they are sure taking a long time to make the website available.

More Mas this Weekend

Yesterday afternoon I made my way to Stone Street to get tickets for Island People's launch this coming Sunday and just by chance I got a tiny glimpse of what looked like an arm band or neckpiece which appeared to be green with gold...so I know there will be lots of colour in the desert.

Prettidolli was kind enough to post an email she got from Sonia Mack in the comments under the post "Waiting". For those of you who did not get the email, like me, this is what it said:

Dear Masqueraders,

Hope all is well and that you are beginning to catch that Carnival 2007 fever!

As many of you may have heard, Sonia Mack resigned from Poison mas Band.

This year SONIA MACK will be leading Island People Mas band on the road.

Island People's theme for Carnival 2007 is Sahara.

SONIA'S section, which is at the front of the band, is called "Le Soleil Brule".

The Island People Mas Band's official launch is on Sunday 27th August at the National Stadium. Tickets are available at Sonia's mas camp on 16 Delhi St, ST. James. Tel contact : 622 - 3805.

Looking forward to having you play mas with us for Carnival 2007!

Yours Sincerely,
Natania (for Sonia)

Registration for Sonia's section will be at her mas camp on Delhi Street as always and even though I did not play with her this year she still has my name on her listing and Natania invited me to join the section again next year (yes I know she says that to everyone). I must say I am pretty excited to get a first look of Le Soleil Brule which I am translating to Burning Sun as Sonia's creations are usually outstanding.

As to be expected Island People's launch is all in the news as anticipation builds for Sunday's presentation. The Trinidad Guardian Pulse has the following write up and gets credit for the opening photo and first glimpse of Sahara:

Last year’s launch was a talking point all year after Island People Mas transformed Hasely Crawford Stadium into an enchanted forest, complete with waterfalls and trails. This year IPM intends going one step further as its unveils its C2K7 presentation - Sahara, out of the vast emptiness comes.... - on Sunday evening at the same venue.

Last year’s surprise act was Machel Montano and Xtatik. It’s anyone guess who will be Sunday’s star act.

Joining IPM’s team of talented designers for Sahara is mother and daughter team Sonia and Natania Mack. Also in the background are award-winning US photographer Wyatt Gallery and ace talent agent Marlon Grant.

Gallery affords Pulse readers a sneak peak at one of the attractive C2K7 sections in Sahara, out of the vast emptiness comes....

©2005-2006 Trinidad Publishing Company Limited

I am thinking maybe Rihanna might make a guest appearance, but who knows. We will just have to wait and see come Sunday!

Confirmation ............

Sonia Mack has joined forces with Island People Mas as reported from the Trinidad Guardian.

Come Sunday, Island People Mas (IPM) returns to the mas arena with its Carnival 2007 presentation of “Sahara—Out of the vast emptiness, comes...”

The group’s C2K6 presentation of The Enchanted Forest earned IPM a reputation for having good vibes, high energy, and most of all, uniquely creative costume designs.

This year, there is an added element to the brilliant designers of IPM; a designer who has a strong reputation for creative excellence and elegant beauty within Trinidad’s Carnival. She is the mas veteran Sonia Mack.

One of the most widely anticipated and well-known designers in mas, and designer/presenter of some of Poison’s most vibrant all-inclusive sections, Mack has united with the design team of IPM.

Principals of IPM assured this week that this new marriage is committed to continue to create contemporary Carnival costumes that are sexy, original and fun.

Over the years, Mack’s costume “couture” has brought great delight and admiration to T&T’s Carnival country.

Assisted by her daughter, Natania, her design innovations have always set trends, consequentially becoming standard features of carnivals both regionally and internationally.

“We both share the common goal of excellence, perfection, and originality in Carnival” Mack said this week about the liaison.

“It’s absolutely fantastic to see a young band like IPM continue to achieve such similar aspirations and goals and I am excited to be a part of such a creative organisation.”

IPM’s Sahara—Out of the vast emptiness, comes...takes place at 6 pm, at the Hasely Crawford Stadium, Port-of-Spain, and goes until midnight.

Non-members would be required to pay $175 and there are limited advance tickets available.

The Costume Conundrum

Take a look at these two costumes: the first photo is a past section from a popular Carnival band known for their well made, beautiful costumes. The second photo I got straight off the pages of a website that specializes in making beaded costumes called Neckelmanns, it's called the "Carnival Set". Click on the photos to see them larger and compare the two.....they are identical.

As I mentioned before I did a project to produce a section in a Carnival Band for my Project Management class ( see how much I love Carnival!) and while doing research I emailed Neckelmanns for information on their costumes and the possibility of using either one of their costumes or having them manufacture my own design Their response was very enlightening informing me that they have lots of experience in this area having designed and manufactured Carnival costumes for Trinidad Carnival.

Now, I am sure everyone has heard at some time or the other that some Carnival bands in Trinidad import costumes from China or Brazil, that was even the excuse used this year when some costumes of a popular band allegedly did not arrive in the country on time leaving many a disgruntled masquerader waiting and leading to a write up in the local Newspapers. The photos above are quite telling if you did not believe the rumors of imported costumes before.

The thing is, those imported costumes look fantastic, they are very detailed, decorated to within a sliver of fabric and set a standard so that when we see a costume that is locally made people call them "cheap". However, I think it is unfair to compare a ready made costume to one that is designed and produced locally since it's like comparing apples to oranges. I do think that it will encourage local designers to not only meet that standard set by costumes from Neckelamanns and other places that manufacture costumes en masse, but also to surpass them in creativity.

I don't know about other people, but I personally have a problem with imported costumes. Before I knew about Necklemanns I was ignorant, now that I know I can tell fairly easily which costumes are imported and which are locally made. Friends of mine have the opinion that the imported costumes not only look better but are made better as well and don't see a problem if bands import costumes since they are getting a "better product".

Trinidad has so much talent, just look at the creations of Brian Mc Farlene and Peter Minshall, it is somewhat sad to think that even though the costumes are just "beads and bikinis" that some people think we cannot produce locally made costumes of a not only a superior design, but of a superior quality. I have costumes packed away in boxes made from "local designers" that are still fully intact so I know we can produce well made costumes right here in Trinidad.

I don't know the reasons why bands choose to import costumes, I am guessing it's cheaper and faster than having them made in Trinidad. But that also brings with it a set of problems such as size restrictions ,being unable to take any special requests or make changes in regards to the costume and you also run the risk of not having the costume getting into the country on time. Apart from all that, I just think we should support local designers and mas producers because they are the ones who have to carry on the Carnival legacy. The steelpan is already being manufactured in factories across Asia, will we loose our Carnival creativity to that too?

Looking at these drop dead gorgeous costumes, that send people into a frenzy, the last thing on anyone's mind is wheter the costume is made locally or imported. I don't expect that those imported costumes will get any less support even if people knew they were coming straight out of a factory in China, well apart from me since I don't blink twice at anything that looks like Neckelmanns costumes. I just want you to take a closer look everytime you see a costume and know what you are getting. Don't be so quick to rip apart costumes that are designed and made locally, even if they don't measure up to the lavishly decorated imported costumes. Be proud that they are made right here in sweet Trinidad and Tobago because they represent all the talent that we have and what sets our Carnival apart from any other Carnival in the world.