The Tribune

Mission Catwalk, a Caribbean based fashion reality television series is in search of burgeoning fashion talent in the region. The hit series, which was recently ranked as the number one television show in Jamaica, is about to get a Bahamian invasion.

When Mission Catwalk Season 3 premieres on April 13 the Bahamas will be represented by local fashion designer Theodore Elyett, as he put his needle and thread in the race.

Mission Catwalk is filmed in Kingston, Jamaica, the country which also delivered the show’s past two winners.

This year, Elyett is seeking to give the contestants from Jamaica and the seven other Caribbean countries represented a run for their money. Elyett began his climb on local fashion scene in 1998 and says all the hard work is certainly paying off.

“Mission Catwalk is an opportunity of a lifetime. Not only do I have the opportunity to showcase my talents to the region and the world, but I also have the responsibility of ensuring that the Bahamas is well represented in this competition as well,” said Elyett.

“There is no doubt that I entered this competition with the mindset to walk away with the grand prize, but I have also allowed myself to embrace this opportunity as a learning experience for growth as well,” he said.

Elyett, along with his competitors, will be mentored throughout the season by veteran fashion quality control specialist Kay Devitian. Devitian has worked with international fashion brands like Jones & Co. New York and Ralph Lauren to name a few.

A total of 15 aspiring designers are set to take part in the Caribbean version of the highly popular Project Runway show, all of them vying for a hefty cash prize, a suite of industrial sewing machines, the opportunity to showcase at London Fashion Week and an intense course at renowned London College of Fashion with dual courses in Paris, France.

Elyett describes the competition as “intense” but based on the local and international awards and mentions he’s already racked up, it’s evident that he knows how to put in work and make every stitch count.

Elyett has been crowned Stylezine Magazine’s People’s Choice Award for 2012 Designer of The Year; champion of Runway to Fashion Week 2010 competition and winner of Harl TaylorBAG Scholarship in 2010.

A staple in the fashion industry in The Bahamas, Elyett has studied at one of the world’s top fashion school’s, Parsons The New School For Design, in New York City during an intensive summer scholarship.

When the season begins on Saturday, April 13, Elyett is seeking to stick a pin in Jamaica’s reign and bring the Mission Catwalk crown home to the Bahamas.

“I’m not going into this trying to be just another competitor. I want to bring them a brand already in action. I am seeking to offer them something; a mutually beneficial relationship is how I’d like to think of it,” he said.

You can watch the show on Cable 12 or Youtube.com.