Meiling
“People think, because I’m a Caribbean designer, everything that comes out of me must be bright and tie-dyed. I say, no, I’m just a designer who happens to be in the Caribbean.”
Meiling is the tour de force behind the premier fashion house, in Trinidad and throughout the Caribbean.
The Meiling brand has existed for over three decades which have been stamped with accolades and awards including collaborations with Emmy Award winning costume designer, Peter Minshall on his Carnival productions, the opening and closing ceremonies of the 1996 Centennial Olympic Games in Atlanta.
First recipient of Caribbean Designer of the Year at Caribbean Fashion Week (CFW) and in 2008 “Grand Master of Fashion Design” in the same year presented the Chaconia Silver Medal, a national award given for the designer’s long and meritorious service to Trinidad and Tobago’s business sector. 2010 one of only two designers in the English-speaking Caribbean to be invited to show at Plataforma K in Colombia the most prestigious fashion trade show in the South American region and invited back in 2011.
2011: Women of Influence Award from the Association of Female Executives of Trinidad and Tobago for her innovation and business acumen.
2012: Ocean Style Award “in recognition of tremendous effort, great accomplishments and lasting impact on Caribbean Fashion”.
The 50th anniversary of independence of Trinidad and Tobago Guardian Newspaper’s online survey she was considered one of the top ten of the 50 most influential people in the nation.
2013: Invited as one of the top five global designers to participate in the Women of Purpose Global Summit.
Awarded the ‘iconic designer’ 2013 National Icon Award of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago.
2017: Honorary Distinguished Fellow in Fine Arts from the University of Trinidad and Tobago.
2018: Meiling was honored to represent her country at the first ever Commonwealth Fashion Exchange event, which hosted designers and artisans from 52 Commonwealth countries producing a design using principles of sustainable excellence. The main event was hosted at Buckingham Palace, Westminster, London, UK.
Meiling is a Board Member of the Common Wealth Fashion Council.
On Sustainability
“Meiling Inc. was established in 1969. We are most proud of our continued efforts at achieving sustainability across different areas of production over the last 40-plus years of business operations.
At least 70 % of our materials sourced and used in design and production are natural fibers
Our design work gives a nod to recycling and upcycling as we incorporate remnants of fabric where possible as signature trim and embroidery notions
We are energy-efficient and rely mostly on hand-embroidery and signature bead designs to finish our garments
Manufacturing occurs under ethical conditions at our design and production studio
We regularly donate excess stock to charities
We upcycle and repurpose garments/costume designs for seasonal stage and other productions
Mentoring is a key pillar of sustainability at Meiling Inc. as we believe that our industry knowledge is something to be passed on to apprentices who can only help ensure that the Meiling brand, and its outstanding brand values, live through time”
“Dressing is about a sense of occasion about feeling special. The relationship between
personality and garment is very important.”